Trident High School’s athletics day proved successful for three students who broke school records in their respective age groups.

Jayd Hunia was the star of the day breaking two records and equalling one, while Makere Smith and Ryder Horlock nabbed one record each.

Jayd’s first record came in the senior girls long jump where her effort of 4.77 metres was 11 centimetres better than the previous best, set in 2007.

Her second record came in the senior girls triple jump. Her 9.50m leap beat a 38-year-old record set in 1987 by 35 centimetres.

Jayd also managed to equal the high jump record from 2013 with a jump of 1.49m.

She said it was exciting to produce good performances across a range of disciplines.

“It all went really well. I was surprised to take out three records. I was just competing for fun.”

Of the three records, the one she is most proud of is the triple jump because she had not done the event before.

“That was my first time doing a triple jump and to get that record was pretty cool. It was a good day all round and the highlight was breaking records.”

The year 13 student said having a couple of athletic records was a nice way to finish her time at Trident.

“I haven’t broken any records before, and this is my last year at school, so that’s special for me.”

Makere was targeting a big championship sports day to break more records but suffered an injury at the javelin event, held a day prior.

Fortunately, the injury came after she had broken her own record in the senior girls’ javelin with a throw of 34 metres.

“I was shocked and proud to beat my last year’s record by five metres. As soon as I broke the record, I wanted to tell her parents and friends. It was a new personal best.”

Makere has been breaking athletic records since she was a junior and has carried records in shot put, javelin and discus.

She said before being injured, she had been hoping to also compete in the discus and shot put.

She’s incredibly thankful to her dad who has taken her out to train for many of those disciplines and the hard work has paid off.

Ryder broke the junior boys long jump record set in 1999 with his leap of 5.45m.

He said breaking a record was cool considering he was focused on having fun.

“I wasn’t expecting it. I was competing for fun. I enjoyed hanging out with everyone and doing the gumboot throw.

“I haven’t broken any records; this is my first year at Trident so in the future I will try to break records, but the aim is to have fun.”

He recently competed at the Bay of Plenty Secondary School Championships and was successful.

Ryder placed fourth equal in the timed final for the junior boys 100m, then competed in the junior boys’ long jump and took out top spot with a whopping 5.74m.

Rosie Milne nabbed bronze in the junior girls 3000m, Ohomairangi Rangiheuea-Akuhata claimed gold in the junior boys’ high jump with his effort of 1.60m and Taylor Ohlsen leaped 8.68m to claim silver in the junior girls triple jump capping off a successful few weeks in the athletics arena for Trident.