My Favourite – Zach Saunders

The rising sprint ace blitzed to the men’s 100m and 200m U20 sprint double at the 2022 Jennian Homes New Zealand Track & Field Championships. We chat to the 18-year-old from Pakuranga AC to find out more.

Favourite achievement in athletics:

ZS: It has to be winning the 100m and 200m double at nationals this year.

Favourite athlete of all time:

Lewis Hamilton. He’s such a fearless competitor and puts everything on the line to be the best at what he does.

Favourite competition you’ve ever watched:

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The athletics was on fire.

Favourite athletics venue:

Hastings, fast track, mostly good winds, sprinters dream.

Favourite piece of coaching advice:

Bananas are not fast, cheers Morty (Zachary’s coach, James Mortimer).

Favourite training session:

150s are the best.

Favourite school athletics memory:

Jayden Williamson running hurdles races!

Favourite pre-competition song:

Takeover by Lee Mvtthews 

Favourite other sport:

Football. It was the first sport I really enjoyed and it brought out my competitive side.

Favourite ice cream flavour:

Cookies and cream

Favourite YouTube video:

Karsten Warholm winning gold and setting a world record at the Tokyo Olympic 400m hurdles final

Favourite day of the week:

Saturday, competition day or big training session.

Favourite video game:

Not a massive fan of gaming, but it would be FIFA.

Favourite sports team:

Manchester United

Favourite animal:

Lion, king of the jungle.

Favourite thing about New Zealand:

Beaches, most are pretty good for a swim.

Favourite extracurricular activity:

Football