Kids pound the beat on the waterfront
Hutt Valley kids joined up to 300 Wellington runners for the third Cigna Kids waterfront run on October 20, with several top placings.
Friends Joshua Jordan and Nathaniel Graham, both 11, had a good tussle for the second successive year, with Jordan heading off Graham, as they did last year.
‘‘We are like running brothers,’’ Graham said.
Both are members of Hutt Valley harriers clubs, and love running for medals.
Held at Waitangi Park for the first time, in association with Athletics Wellington, there was a 500m events for pre-schoolers. Those from Years 4 to 8 ran 2km, with the winners and their selected adults gaining free entry to Round the Bays in February.
Medals were presented by 1500m Rio Olympian Hamish Carson and World Mountain Running champion Melissa Moon.
The event had a festive atmosphere with 200 Cigna staff members running a variety of stalls. All proceeds from the day will go to Achil- les New Zealand.
Jordan’s sister Katie,6, also got a silver medal in her event – and then had her face painted at the stalls.
Aucklander and Achilles Kids ambassador Jayden Movald, 12, took part on his cycle. Spina bifida had not stopped him competing in several sports, and he had already triathlons.
Carson said it was amazing to witness ‘‘the future of running’’ after a quite different atmosphere at Rio – but said children took the event seriously.
‘‘There’s some big battles for those first three placings.’’ completed 17