Track races into post-quake era
Christchurch has sprinted into a new athletics era with the opening of a new, world-class track.
The development has been described as a coup for the city, and a major boost for a new generation of athletes who have grown up without proper facilities. Athletics Canterbury christened the new 400-metre track with a meet on Saturday.
It is the first part of the $53.65 million first stage of Nga¯ Puna Wai sports hub to open.
Hundreds of children competed on the blue track under a blue sky in the morning.
The senior competition kicked off in the afternoon, as spectators watched from the surrounding embankment and covered stand.
‘‘It feels like Christmas has come early for the athletics community,’’ Athletics Canterbury general manager Ian Thomas said. ‘‘It’s such a coup for Christchurch as part of our rebuild.
‘‘Today we had a whole generation of children who’ve never run on anything other than grass.’’
Athletics Canterbury president Andrew Stark said there were about three times the number of senior competitors compared with what the club had been getting while running events at Rawhiti Domain.
‘‘I’m hopeful this signals a turning point in athletics, and it’s a new era.’’
He said the new track had good bounce. ‘‘I didn’t hear any negative comments about the track, which is always good, because they do comment if it’s a bit hard or a bit slow.’’
Athletics Canterbury has spent about $200,000 on new equipment for the facility, such as cages for the hammer throw and pads for the pole vault.
The 400m track will be used for sprints, middle and long-distance running and relays.
The complex also caters for jumping and throwing sports, as well as pole vaulting.
Nga¯ Puna Wai will also have two hockey turfs, to open in December, and two rugby league fields and 12 tennis courts, expected to open next April.
The complex sits on a 32-hectare section of Nga¯ Puna Wai Reserve in southwest Christchurch, next to the Canterbury Agricultural Park.
It was built to replace several earthquake damaged sports facilities across the city, including the athletics and field amenities at QEII Park, the hockey turfs at Porritt Park, the tennis courts at Wilding Park, and the rugby league fields displaced from Rugby League Park in Addington.