Football Ferns, Blacksticks, Olympians among AUT University’s top sports stars
AUT University’s best athletes were recognised at the 2009 AUT Sports Awards on Friday October 2 with Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year going to gymnast Patrick Peng and footballer Hayley Moorwood.
Bruce Meyer, sport development manager at AUT says that these two awards take into account academic and athletic performance and the students’ contribution to AUT’s sports and community.
“Both athletes represent New Zealand in their sports as well as achieving excellent grades and contributing to AUT – they are deserving winners,” says Meyer.
Epsom resident Peng, 20, is studying a Bachelor of Health Science in Physiotherapy at AUT, while Blockhouse Bay resident Moorwood, 25, is completing a Bachelor of Health Science in Psychology and a Diploma in Fitness Training.
“I finding balancing my academic study with my sporting commitments very hard especially when study clashes with competitions,” says Peng. “The World Cup Grand Prix circuit kicks off in late October which is when our exams take place. Luckily AUT is allowing me to sit my exams early.”
Moorwood agrees that balancing the two is a challenge. The youngest ever captain of the Football Ferns she still finds time to give back to the community in her role as female ambassador for the Small Whites. “I have a very hectic schedule but it comes down to good time management. I have to squeeze training in twice a day, on top of attending university, studying and my other commitments – I have become very well organised!”
National men’s decathlete champion Brent Newdick from Parnell won the AUT male athlete of the year, and New Zealand Blacksticks women’s hockey player Gemma Flynn from Tauranga South won female athlete of the year. Both awards recognise pure athletic performance.
Newdick represented New Zealand in Decathlon at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, finished 23rd with a personal best score at the recent 2009 World Athletic Championships in Berlin and took silver at the 2009 World University Games.
Flynn was named New Zealand Women’s Hockey player of the Year in 2008 and currently plays for the country’s senior Blacksticks women’s team as well as the Junior under21 women’s team. She clinched the top goal scorer award following the national under21 tournament in 2008.
The four were among 21 athletes to receive an AUT Blues Sports Award having represented the country or region at the highest level while studying at AUT. All recipients were presented with their awards by guest speaker and well known Olympic triathlete Hamish Carter.
*Images of this year’s winners are available if requested
For more information contact:
Bruce Meyer
Sports Development Manager