Elite athletes visit Colgate Games
Two of New Zealand’s elite athletes and more than 1000 kids turned up at the Colgate Games in Inglewood over the weekend.
Olympic bronze medalwinning pole vaulter Eliza McCartney and Stratford-born sprinter Zoe Hobbs were at the North Island junior national athletics championships yesterday.
‘‘Growing up, this is what inspired me to keep going in the sport,’’ said Hobbs, who competed in Colgate from age 7 to 14.
The 23-year-old, who holds the national record for the under-20 and under-19 100m, said the event helped her learn how to prepare for competition.
‘‘I feel like it’s always been a big part of my life.’’
McCartney said as a kid it was important to give things a go and have fun and not specialise too early.
‘‘If I can inspire just one or two children to give it a go, that’s all I can hope for,’’ McCartney said.
‘‘It’s just a cool opportunity to be here.’’
More than 1000 kids from across the North Island were competing at the three-day event, being held at the TET Stadium.
One winner was Blake Delehanty, 12, from the Ha¯wera Athletics Club, who took out the 80m hurdles with only three weeks’ training.
‘‘A teacher from our school just asked me if I want to do it. Then we brought a few hurdles home and she trained me up,’’ Blake said.
‘‘I guess when it came to the day I just pulled finger.’’
Blake, who was also competing in several other events, said he took up athletics when he was younger and only recently got back into it.
Holly Robins, also 12, from the Olympic Harrier and Athletic Club in Wellington, won her high jump class yesterday.
She was in her third Colgate Games. ‘‘I think it’s pretty awesome,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s such a friendly atmosphere.’’