Waitakere Athletics has several volunteer coaches who work tirelessly with the club to assist with extra training for our athletes at no extra cost. If you are interested in seeking extra training for your child, please touch base with the committee to enquire about coaching.
If you are interested in linking up with any of Waitakere City Athletic Club’s coaches, please email wcac365@gmail.com and we can send connect you with the appropriate person.
Rob Taylor has been associated with Waitakere Athletics for eight years, and has been a coach with the club for six years.
With coaching certificates in Sprints – Advance Level, Jumps – Mid Level and Throws – Mid Level, Rob currently coaches athletes at Waitakere Athletics Club from 8 – 16 years of age.
Rob is also NZ Athletics qualified Starter for Juniors and Seniors and a B’ graded Athletics Official for Track, Jumps and Throws. He is also a Waitakere Club Committee Member, one of our Junior Club delegates, charged with representing the club at Athletics Auckland meetings. He dedicates a significant amount of his time to Waitakere Athletics.
Rob D has had a 40 year involvement with Waitemata/Waitakere Athletics as an athlete in his own right and then as a coach. He has been coaching for 12 years and is a speciality High Jump coach.
He currently coaches athletes in the 12+ age group, but also coaches 10-11 year olds for the Trans-Tasman competition.
Rob is a Waitakere Athletics committee member, a Junior Athletics delegate and the Club Captain for the Massey Athletics Club. He dedicates a significant amount of his time to Waitakere Athletics.
I have been coaching for 60 Years (7 clubs) from London to Wellington and Auckland.
My favourite discipline is jumps (Triple Jump, High Jump, Long Jump), followed by hurdles, followed by sprints, Heptathlon and Pentathlon.
Highlight of coaching career so far was at the NZ Schools athletic champs, in Hamilton when athletes in my group won five individual titles on one weekend.
An interesting fact about me is that I have competed in all track and field events, plus X country, road races, duathlons as well as triathlons and marathons.
Top Tip for success. Choose a respected coach who is compatible with your athletic aspirations.
For more information about Mike’s vast experience in athletics, click HERE:
Nuree began as athletics career as a 400 and 800m runner, she was part of the Waitakere Athletics Club and represented New Zealand in both disciplines in the 90s. She began her coaching career three years ago after being approached by a parent who knew of her previous background in running and her squad has grown from there.
While she acknowledges a small bias in her love for the disciplines of 400 and 800m running, she now coaches athletes from all disciplines and loves them all. Thus far, her coaching career highlight has been watching Lex Revell-Lewis win the NZ Secondary Schools Junior Boys 400m race after only one season together and of course, since then, watching each of her athletes perform and succeed in their chosen disciplines.
Nuree’s top tip for success: Be honest with your training, otherwise what is the point of doing it? Don’t go through the motions as you will get nothing out of it. Train for success. Also, listen to your body. If you are sick or injured, don’t train.
Kat Saifiti who is our resident specialist throws coach She began her coaching experience four years ago, originally as a parent coach to her own child (the very fabulous and helpful Layla), and then the following year, was given the chance to take CNW throws sessions on Sundays and hasn’t looked back.
As a still competing thrower herself, her preferred disciplines are shot put and discus, but she’s also started to develop some interest in javelin and hammer throwing as well!
Kat’s had many highlights during her coaching career already including Blessing Sefo taking Silver in the U20 Men’s Shotput and Discus at the NZ Track and Field Champs in 2021, but she also says that every success her athletes have, whether it be technical skills coming together, a new PB or a placing, its all exciting to her!
A fascinating little piece of information about Kat is that never did athletics growing up and only got involved when someone suggested her daughter would be ideal for throwing. Thank goodness someone made that awesome suggestion because the sport is so lucky to have Kat, who is a representative on many Auckland Athletics boards and acts as an official and volunteer at most major Junior Athletics events in Auckland – and across the country.
Kat’s Top tip for success? Losses and failures are never a loss, but lessons to learn from. Set goals, stay focused, work hard and never ever give up!!
Mark is our Cross Country Coach and coordinator, a recent (ish) addition to the whanau who has revitalised our winter season.
After arriving in NZ a couple of years ago with his wonderful family, Mark joined various athletic clubs, before finding his happy place with Waitakere Athletic Club. He has been coaching distance for a couple of years now, but has coached in other ways/sports for almost 20 years.
His favourite disciplines are 800m and relays and the highlight of his coaching career thus far is “simply seeing the athletes smiling faces when they compete makes it all worthwhile”.
Mark was an athlete across a range of sports as a youngster, athletics and soccer at regional level, cricket at county level – he could have gone pro had it not been for a bad accident. He then moved into personal training, specialising in army/police entry fitness training.
Mark’s Top tip for success? Train hard and play hard too! You only get out what you put in. At the same time you need to enjoy your downtime whether through playing another sport or relaxing/socialising.
