Grimaldi rounds off brilliant year with top Otago award

Otago Daily Times

02-05-2025

Paralympic champion Anna Grimaldi has capped off a breakthrough season on the track by being named athlete of the year at the Athletics Otago awards last night.
It was a dream season for the 28-year-old, who was crowned the T47 200m champion in Paris after soaring home in a personal best 24.72sec to set an Oceania record.
She also won bronze with a personal best, and Oceania record, of 12.20sec in the 100m and finished fourth in the long jump in Paris.
Grimaldi, who was named para athlete of the year at the Halberg Awards, had earlier won silver in the long jump, and bronze in the 100m, at the world para athletics championships in May.
Grimaldi, who was the flag bearer for the Paralympics opening ceremony, also won Otago para athlete of the year, while her coach, Michael Jacobs, was named elite coach of the year.
Ultramarathon superstar John Bayne won male winter athlete of the year for his efforts in the gruelling discipline.
He finished sixth at the IAU 24hr race in Australia and was the second-last Kiwi standing in the backyard ultra world team championships in Otematata, where Bayne ran 72 laps, beating his personal best by 21 laps.
Long-distance runner Catherine Lund was named female winter athlete of the year and junior summer athlete of the year.
Among her highlights, Lund competed in the 5000m at the world under-20 championships in Peru, where she finished 16th.
Ariki athlete Shay Veitch won senior summer athlete of the year after a return to form after injury in early 2024.
Veitch laid down the sixth-fastest time in New Zealand history with 10.34sec in the 100m at the Potts Classic, lowering his previous best of 10.64sec to win the event.
He was also part of the Otago 4x100m relay team that won gold at the national track and field championships and won the national long jump title.
Veitch's coach, Michael Beable, was named development coach of the year for his work with Veitch and his Wanaka athletes.
Raylene Bates was recognised for her contribution to athletics, having served as the Paralympics chef de mission and was head of the local organising committee for the national track and field championships.
Bates also coaches several Otago athletes, including Paralympian Holly Robinson, who won bronze in the shot put in Paris, and Dunstan seated thrower Mac Denniston, who landed on the podium at the Oceania championships.
Joan Merrilees was named official of the year for her tireless work behind the scenes. She also put in countless hours upskilling polytechnic students to be officials at the national track and field championships.