Four Dio girls cycle way into national squads
For Waikato Diocesan School cycling has taken on a renewed focus after four pupils were selected to ride at national level.
Waikato Diocesan School has produced four national-level cyclists.
Robin Hacker-Cary, 16, and Maxyna Cottam, 15, have been selected for the U17 New Zealand Cycling Team, while Jordyn Crouch, and Madison Farrant, both 15, have been selected for the Junior NZ Development Squad.
Cycling manager Peter Boreham is excited to see the girls recognised.
“It’s a hard sport and they work hard.”
The girls spend around 10-12 hours practising each week and ride around 300km. This is a combination of personal and school training that includes hill climbing and sprinting to keep up fitness levels.
While Jordyn plays social netball as well as cycling she says she was “stoked” to get in to the national development squad.
All the girls agree that cycling takes up most of their time.
Madison said, “I have to fit everything around cycling.”
Jordyn and Madison only picked up cycling in the last few years, while Robin chose cycling after participating in triathlons and finding cycling the best part of the race.
For Maxyna cycling is in the blood.
“Just watching my brother and my dad got me into it.”
Being selected will see Robin and Maxyna take part in the prestigious Tour of Canberra in July, along with recent Dio Old Girl and coach of Dio’s senior cycling squad, Pip Sutton.
All four girls will take part in a New Zealand cycle camp held over Queen’s Birthday weekend in Stratford, in conjunction with the tour of Taranaki.
While the girls are unsure where cycling will take them in the future, they are optimistic about the possibilities of the Olympics.
Jordyn said: “To win the Olympics, now that would be cool.”
