Middle distance runner Millie McFadzien and rugby player Olivia Gill have been recognised during the ILT Academy Southland’s end of year celebrations in Invercargill tonight (November 13).

Academy Southland, which was first piloted in 2005, provides a range of support for many of Southland’s best young athletes, including mental skills training, athlete life, nutrition and strength and conditioning at the Mike Piper Training Centre.

While a special event to mark the 20th anniversary of the programme is being held in December, tonight was about recognising the achievements of the current crop of Southland athletes.

St Peter's College athlete Millie McFadzien. Photo supplied

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Gore-based Mille McFadzien (St Peter’s College) was honoured with the top award for Foundation Year athletes for commitment in the first year of the programme.

Millie represented New Zealand at the Australian secondary schools cross country championships, and also won the Young Enterprise Scheme’s Southland company of the year title recently.

Academy coordinator Carly Anderson said Millie, who is coached by her cousin and Academy Southland graduate Hannah Miller, had made the most of the opportunities the programme provided.

“Millie is a high achiever and she’s been able to use the things she’s learned this year to help fine tune the skills she already had. Despite the additional travel required to take part, Millie has made it work.”

Millie has a busy end to the year, with the national finals of the Young Enterprise Scheme and the New Zealand secondary schools athletics championships both happening in early December.

Central Southland College rugby player Olivia Gill was honoured for her commitment in the Leadership Year of the two-year academy programme.

The hard-running loose forward has been a member of the CSC’s First XV, which this year qualified for the South Island final, defended its title at the Buller 10s and qualified for the Condor Sevens, being held at Mt Maunganui at the end of November.

Olivia, who is heading to Otago Polytechnic next year to study applied science, was also selected for New Zealand under 18 and Matatū under 20s camps.

“Olivia has really made the most of opportunities the programme has provided her with and when she’s gone away to those camps she’s been able to thrive in those environments,” Carly said.

Academy manager Jason McKenzie said planning for the December anniversary event had provided the programme with a great chance to reflect.

“It’s been a special time looking back at the past 20 years and the 250 or so athletes who have come through the programme,” he said.

“As part of the celebration we’ve been able to reconnect with a lot of those athletes and it’s heartening to see what they have gone on to achieve in their sport and their lives.”