News & Updates

17 February 2022 • General

My favourite – Felix McDonald

Felix McDonald competing at the 2020 Jennian Homes New Zealand Track & Field Championships (Photo: Felix McDonald)

The 2020 national men’s senior long jump champion is in great form having recently set a PB of 7.61m. We find out a few favourite things in the world of the 23-year-old Athletics Taieri athlete.

Favourite athletics venue

I would have to say the Caledonian track in Dunedin. This is just because its where it all started when I was 11 years old trying athletics for the first time.

Favourite piece of coaching advice

Be patient, good things come with time, and consistency is your friend in the sport of athletics. 

Favourite training session

Got to be one of our jumping sessions, especially when we get to jump off a box into the pit.

Favourite athlete of all time

Hands down Tiger Woods he’s the G.O.A.T

Favourite competition you’ve ever watched

I was at the Sydney Track Classic back in 2015. Watching David Rudisha (two-time Olympic 800m champion and world record-holder) win the 800m was amazing.  

Favourite athletics website

Not a website but a YouTube channel called “Total Running Productions” puts out some great content on the most recent track meets and has some ridiculous stats.

Favourite school athletics memory

Definitely winning the 4x100m and 4x400m at the 2016 national secondary school champs in Timaru, with the same four guys. Almost unheard of.

Favourite athletics room-mate

Would have to be Ben Collerton and Nick Smith when we went to the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa 2015. Boys will be boys!

Favourite pre-competition song

(Balaclava by SHY FX) really cranks things up a notch.

Favourite pre-competition snack

My pre-comp go to is a double shot short black coffee and a banana.

Favourite other sport

I play quite a bit of golf and would play more if I wasn’t focused on athletics training. Golf is nothing like long jump at all, and I think that’s why I enjoy it so much. There’s nothing like striking one straight down the fairway or draining a 15-footer.

Favourite toy as a child

I was a big Hot Wheels fan as a kid. I had a big collection and would race them down my grandparents’ driveway and find out which one was the fastest.

Favourite video game

I don’t play too many video games these days, but I used to love playing Spyro and Crash Bandicoot on a PlayStation 2 as a kid.

Favourite overseas country visited

Samoa, white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, what’s not to like. 

Favourite Treat

Mama’s Donuts on Vogel Street in Dunedin is the go to place for a treat. 

Favourite extracurricular activity

Keeping my hobby Instagram account stocked with product is quite fun and keeps me busy. @clOthes_line on Instagram where you can find hand-picked quality vintage and street wear

Follow the action at the 2022 Sir Graeme Douglas International presented by Harcourts Cooper & Co on Sky Sport 9 and for free by registering with Sky Sport Now. Register on Sunday 20 February from 3.30pm by heading to www.skysportnow.co.nz, click on the Sir Graeme Douglas International presented by Harcourts Cooper & Co banner, fill in your name and email address and you will set to follow the exhilarating action.

*Note Sky Sport Now is geo-blocked and cannot be accessed by anyone outside of New Zealand.