Two top Para Athletes up for award

Congratulations to Mac Denniston and Adam Hall for being recognised at the 2025 Central Otago Sports Awards.

The pair are finalists in the Otago Polytechnic Para Athlete of the Year category.

Alexandra-based Mac Denniston was 14 when he suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of a mountain bike accident, but after relearning to walk he was inspired to take up athletics in late 2023, with the encouragement of Athletics NZ Para Lead Raylene Bates.

Mac competes as a seated thrower, and has achieved success in the javelin, discus, and shot put events.

He recently claimed a Silver medal in Senior Seated Discus at the Australian Athletics Nationals in Perth, and set a new NZ Record in the Seated Javelin event.

Mac also claimed 3 gold medals at the NZ Track and Field Champs in March in Discus, Shotput and Javelin, setting new U20 Oceania records in the Shot Put and Discus. He won a Bronze medal in Senior Para-Discus last May at the Oceania Athletics Championships in Fiji.

Meanwhile Dunedin-born alpine skier Adam Hall continues to shine at the top level on the international circuit.  (Adam splits his training base between Cardrona Alpine Resort and Winter Park in the USA).

The 5-time Paralympian finished the season in second place in the 2025 FIS Para Alpine Slalom ranking, after a series of strong performances including two podiums (2nd and 3rd) and multiple top 5 finishes.

We'll be cheering on both athletes as they line up in the Otago Polytechnic-sponsored Para Athlete of the Year category at the Central Otago Sports Awards night on May 8 in Wanaka!

(Montage photo credits: Mac Denniston (Instagram @para_athlete_mac_denniston), Adam Hall (Gregory Picoult-Tignes World Cup))