Sports Academy Athlete finds balance at WITT

WITT Sports Academy athlete Kane de Vries credits his twin brother for his athletics start.

At the age of 10, Kane was dragged along to the Hāwera Athletics Club and now at 18, he hasn’t looked back.

The former Hāwera High School student is now ranked on the New Zealand Athletics leaderboard triple jump events.

He’s been ranked in all three events with his best ranking being second and third in the discipline. At the end of March, he was placed second for the men’s under 20 triple jump at a national meet in Hawkes Bay. 

But triple jump isn’t Kane’s only athletics discipline. He came ninth in the men’s under 20 200 metre sprints at the same event in March.

Now studying New Zealand Certificate in Exercise (Level 4), Kane was selected as a one of five WITT Sports Academy athletes for 2021.  He said the Sports Academy provides a great balance.

“It has enabled me to keep competing while I study as it has helped me fit in the training sessions I miss with my coach.”

He said his drive to apply for the new academy was to keep training and learn new techniques in the gym to stay fit and strong.

“For me personally, fitness and sport are my passion so being able to study exercise and keep competing is important,” he said.

His involvement in the club is important because Kane trains young athletes ‘helping them be the best they can.’

Off the track, he enjoys being outside and is involved in kayaking and hiking. His biggest achievement is not on the athletics track but on the football field when he travelled to Melbourne to play when he was Year 11.

He hopes to go to Canada next year to an outdoor tourism course and include his personal training into his work.

The New Zealand Certificate in Exercise (Level 4) provides the skills and knowledge to design and deliver exercise programmes within a framework of health and wellness.  Recognised by the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPS), the Certificate is a practically based programme that leads to employment in the sport and exercise industry.

The programme is delivered over 15 weeks and is full-time on campus and also includes 20 hours of practical work experience. There is an online option for students over the same period and requires 220 hours of work experience in an approved facility.