My name is Hannah Gapes, I am 17 years old and currently a Year 13 student at John Paul College, Rotorua. I live in a family of six, with three brothers.
I feel privileged to have been involved in a wide variety of sports, including rock-climbing, tennis, hockey, mountain biking and running, competing at Regional and National level.
I am most passionate about middle distance running in particular cross-country, track and road. I train hard for my sport, often on my own due to Rotorua having few running athletes my age. I am extremely fortunate to live close to forests and lakes where I do most of my training. The past year I have attained six National titles winning some of the following Championships: NZ Athletics junior womens cross-country, NZ Secondary School senior girls cross-country, NZ Athletics junior womens 5000m, NZ Secondary Schools senior girls 1500m and the NZ Athletics U18 Road Race. As a results, I have been selected to represent New Zealand at the World Cross Country U20 Championships in Bathurst Australia.
Outside of running, I am studying Level 3 NCEA. I have received the University of Canterbury Student Volunteer Army Gold, Silver and Bronze award, I have Bronze and Silver and nearing completion of Gold in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. I am a Prefect, Sports Captain at my college and have been the Student Representative for the BOP Student Sports Council for two years, which encourages students to engage in physical activity. I am the Student Ambassador for the Great Kauri Run, which promotes the regeneration of the Kauri in Coromandel.
I am grateful for the support from my family. They have given me the opportunity to train and travel around NZ for my sport, which all comes at a cost of time and money.
I am enthusiastic, determined and committed to my sport. I desire to be excellent in all that I do, and also understand the importance of giving back to our community.