Jorja Gibbons will be taking part in the New Zealand Track and Field Championships at the Caledonian Ground in March.
The 18-year-old aims to compete in the long jump as well as the 100m and 200m sprints.
"[The] 100 is definitely my main aim."
Her personal best is 11.97sec, but other athletes in her under-20 age category have run about 11.8sec.
"So I will try to beat that," she said.
Coming from a family of talented athletes has been beneficial for Gibbons.
Her father, Paul Gibbons, was a pole vaulter who represented New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in 1990 and the Olympic Games in 1992.
Her mother, Megan Gibbons, was a talented hurdler who also represented New Zealand.
"So that definitely helps because obviously she has been in that position, but also having dad and the fact that he reached the Olympics."
Her mother is her coach.
"Mum’s tried to be both my mother and a coach.
"Sometimes I can be in a bit of a bad mood when training, but they have definitely taught me to just have fun.
"Because obviously I’m still young, so not to put too much pressure on myself."
Gibbons has a regular training routine each week.
Mondays are normally focused on longer endurance runs of 150m or 200m.
On Tuesdays she works on upper body strength at the gym and on Wednesdays she works on speed and full-body strength.
She practises the long jump on Thursdays, rests on Fridays, and Saturdays are often competition days.
This year, her training will have to be incorporated into her studies at the University of Otago, where she is starting her first year training to be a teacher.
Gibbons is excited to be able to compete in the national championships in Dunedin for a change, given the event has not been held in Dunedin since 2016.
"It is so exciting, it will be so cool. I’m just hoping we get good weather."
The details
2025 Jennian Homes New Zealand Track and Field Championships
March 6 to 9
Caledonian Ground
50 Logan Park Dr
Visit athletics.org.nz for details.
