Competing at the New Zealand National Championships in Hastings last weekend, Pukaikia won the bronze medal in the Under 18 division in 25.85 seconds, an improvement of three quarters of a second on her best performance last year.
She also placed fourth in the 100m sprint.
Of predominantly East Sepik heritage, Pukaikia’s athletic talent was first spotted by her teacher as a student at Footscray North Primary School in Melbourne in 2012 and 2013.