A team of ten Aspiring Athletes achieved outstanding performances and personal records at the South Island Colgate Games in Nelson last weekend (January 16-17). 

Wanaka mother and coach Jo Knight said competitors aged 10-14 years record times and run finals, but the event also gives children under 10 the opportunity to take part without having their times recorded.

“It’s really cool to get the kids involved,” Jo said. “They had a great experience and soaked up the atmosphere.”

Jo said the Wanaka athletes train on grass, don’t have throwing circles, and have a basic throwing pit, so the venue of Saxton Field was “amazing” for the young athletes to experience.

“They get to the Colgate Games and there’s a proper rubber track and so on. For the younger athletes it’s like the Olympics,” she said.

The team comprised Jarrod Enoka (7), Daisy Speak (8), Charlise Wyatt (8), Harriet Grant (8), Sienna Clark (10), Amelia Knight (10), Amaya East (12), Jimmy Knight (12), Estelle Gellatly (14), Millie East (14), and team manager Kath Nicholson.

The 14-year-old girls’ 4x100m relay team of Estelle, Millie, Amelia and Amaya was “a real feelgood event”, Jo said.

“Millie and Estelle (both 14) couldn’t race without Amaya and Amelia stepping up. They did so well to earn second place and the silver medal out of eight teams. There was great sportsmanship from Estelle, Millie and Amaya (12) in helping Amelia prepare for this event - it was a superb team effort.”

In other results, Millie East (coached by Haagon East) achieved first place in the 400m, second place in the 200m and second in the 100m. Estelle Gellatly (coached by Michael Beable) also achieved third place in the 100m, third place in the 200m.

Jimmy Knight (coached by Michael Beable) achieved first place in the 12-year-old boys long jump (with a personal best (PB) by 50cm), eighth place in the 100m (PB in the heat), eighth in the 200m, seventh place in the high jump, and made the semi finals in his first 400m.

In addition to her second place in the 100m 14-year-old girls’ relay, Amaya East (also coached by Haagon East) also achieved fifth place in the 800m, and competed in the 100m and 400m. She achieved PBs in all her events.

Amelia Knight made the semi-finals in 100m and 200m, and Sienna Clark ran well in the 800m in her first Colgate Games and competed in long jump and race walk.

Charlise Wyatt placed second in discus and third in long jump; Daisy Speak and Harriet Grant ran a great relay with Charlise and Jared, and Jared did well to step up to the grade 8-year-olds event, Jo said.

Jared Enoka also placed first in discus, second in long jump (with a PB), second in the 60m, and third in the 100m and 200m.

Jo said team manager Kath Nicholson did a great job.

“This was Kath’s sixth Colgate Games and second year as manager. We would like to thank her for ensuring our athletes turned up to their events on time, and for organising the relay teams,” Jo said.

PHOTO: Supplied