Lobb preps for masters

Masters athlete David Lobb is readying himself for his 11th straight appearance at the New Zealand Masters Association’s track and field championships in Wellington next year.

Lobb is getting into training for the 39th running of the event in March, and will be joined by fellow athlete and coaching champion Ake Hosea-Winterflood.

Lobb picked up three silver medals in the long jump, triple jump and pentathlon events of the Oceania Masters athletics championships in New Zealand earlier this year.

Hosea walked away with a bronze medal in the long jump event.

Next year’s attendance at the championships will see Lobb have a case of dj vu.

Lobb first went to the New Zealand championships in 2003 to promote the Oceania masters athletics championships held in the Cook Islands the following year.

Next March, Lobb will be participating in the long jump, triple jump, 60 metres sprint and 100 metres sprint at Newton Park in Wellington.

He will be using that event to promote the Cook Islands’ hosting of the Oceania masters in October 2015.

“It’s gone round full circle,” says Lobb.

He says the success of the 2004 Oceania masters reached New Zealand and Australia.

“Because we had 250-300 people here in 2004, the word is out – everybody is real keen to come.”

Lobb says the improved facilities at the BCI Stadium should also help secure masters athletes from New Zealand and Australia.

He will also be attending the Australian masters championships in Canberra before attending the annual council meeting of the Oceania Masters Athletics Council.

For now, Lobb is getting his training preparations underway for the New Zealand event.

“I haven’t done too much training and it’s 10 weeks away – you’ve got to do that much training to get into some shape.”