A large contingent of young athletes travelled to Invercargill last weekend (January 14-16) to participate in the South Island Colgate Games in conditions locals described as “an unprecedented heatwave”.

The annual event, hosted by Athletics Southland and Athletics NZ, was held at Surrey Park in sunny conditions which soared to 28 degrees.

For some of the 27 Aspiring Athletes Club (AAC) members, the largest ever contingent of athletes to represent the club at the Colgate Games, it was also the first time they had ever run on an all-weather track.

AAC members train on the grass track near the Wānaka Recreation Centre so the all-weather track was a new experience for many of the younger athletes, AAC team manager Kirsten Wyatt said.

“...the fantastic effort from all the athletes showed the benefit of this surface,” Kirsten said.

The Colgate Games caters for athletes aged from 7-14 years who chose to compete in up to five track and field events over the three days, plus, where numbers permitted, a 4x100m relay.

The games emphasise team spirit and participation, especially for the 7-9 year olds where every competitor is awarded a ribbon, Kirsten said.

(L-R) James Sheppard (7), Jared Enoka (8) and Ethan Rankin (8) display their pennants earned at the Colgate Games 2022.

“Aspiring’s athletes showed great team spirit and supported each other, which in turn helped each team member give it their best,” she said.

With the welcome assistance of coach Barbara Beable, Kirsten said, the team held extra training sessions over the summer holidays in preparation for the Games which led to some surprise achievements.  

Seven year olds James Sheppard and Sam Morris “did exceptionally well” each earning podium finishes in five out of six events, including stepping up a grade to combine forces with  eight-year-olds Jared Enoka and Ethan Rankin to run second in the Grade Eight 4x100m relay. 

“Their results were so unexpected and really exciting,” Kirsten said.  

Jared Enoka also did exceptionally well, winning pennants in all six of his track and field events.

A “huge” group of nine-year old girls competed and all nine of them, as well as four seven-year old girls, each did well to reach the podium in at least two events: “Really fantastic for the girls in our club,” Kirsten said.

Of the older athletes a good number achieved spots in semi finals and finals including: Sienna Clark in the Grade 11 Girls 100m and 200m semifinal; Natasha Thurston in the Grade 11 Girls 200m semifinal; Amaya East in  the Grade 13 Girls 100m semifinal and the 800m final; and Chantel Thurston in the Grade 14 Girls 100m and 200m semifinals. 

The 2023 Colgate Games is being held in Timaru and plans are already in place with almost all Aspiring Athletes saying they would love to go again next year, Kirsten said. 

The Colgate Games is New Zealand’s biggest athletics event for children, attracting hundreds of young athletes, with one event in the North Island and another in the South. The games are held in January every year and entry is open to any child aged 7-14 years who is a member of an athletics club that is affiliated with Athletics New Zealand.

PHOTOS: Supplied