Young track and field stars claim scholarships

Remember the names Jordan Viljoen and Morgan Day.

The two local up-and-coming stars of New Zealand’s athletics scene have both received the prestigious Nick Willis Scholarship for their standout results at the recent 2025 North Island Colgate Games competition.

Almost 70 Pakuranga Athletic Club representatives aged from seven to 14 years old took part in the major annual track and field event in Hastings.

Team manager Chris Day says with a strong contingent of athletes across the age groups and events, the club claimed numerous podium finishes, with many of its athletes achieving personal best results.

The club, which is known for nurturing young talent, had a group of athletes competing across different age groups and their results did not disappoint, he says.

What may have been the most exciting news for the club was for Jordan and Morgan to be awarded two of the Nick Willis Scholarship granted at the Colgate Games.

The accolade is named for the Kiwi double-Olympic medallist in the 1500 metres.

“It’s given to four outstanding athletes who exhibit not only exceptional talent but also strong character and leadership qualities during the North Island Colgate Games,” Day says.

“It is amazing to have two athletes from one club be awarded the Nick Willis Scholarship in one year.”

Jordan won the 80 metres, the high jump, long jump, and mixed medley relay.

Her team was second in the 4×100 metre relay and she finished fourth in the 200 metres.

Morgan won the 800 metres and the medley and was second in the 400 metres, race walk, and the 4×100 metres relay.

Jordan goes into athletics events aiming for victory and the Colgate Games were no different.

“I always have the mindset of ‘I can win’,” she says.

“I make sure I have a mindset of positivity and expect to win. I was most thrilled to have won the long jump because I had a break from it for a while and haven’t jumped over five metres for a bit.

“Then I went into the competition, and I think I jumped 5.14m. I was very happy with that.”

Morgan says she’s been competing for several years and knew the athletes she was up against would be tough to beat.

“I just had to set my mind to what I wanted to do and try my best. The 800 metres is my main event.

“I was really happy to win it as on the previous day I didn’t do as well in the 1500 metres as I’d hoped, so I was happy I could win the 800 metres.”

For earning the scholarship, Jordan and Morgan each received a $500 Rebel Sport voucher and various Colgate products.

“I was very surprised as it was my second Colgate Games,” Jordan says.

“When I went down last year, I saw the other 14-year-old athletes who had achieved it, and I was looking forward to trying to get it.”

Morgan was also thrilled to have earned the prestigious scholarship.

“I was really happy and definitely really surprised as I knew other girls who had also done really well in their events and got a few golds as well.”