Rain stays away at last
Young athletes have had to endure a sodden Colgate Games
The rain eased in Whanganui on Sunday, bringing relief to athletes competing in the Colgate Games at the Cooks Gardens. Clubs from around the North Island have spent the weekend in the city.
The event rotates around New Zealand centres annually, and was last held in Whanganui in 2009.
Commonwealth Games 100 metre finalist and New Zealand women’s 100m record-holder Zoe Hobbs was at the track on Sunday.
Originally from Taranaki, she said she competed in Whanganui quite a few times over the years.
“I did the Colgates here when I was 11, some central meets, and a couple of Cooks Classics as well,” Hobbs said.
The Colgate Games gave athletes a taste of different events, she said.
“You don’t specialise in any one thing. You do everything and anything.
“When I was [aged] seven to nine, I did 60 metres, 100 metres, 200 metres, and long jump.
“Back then you could only do four events, but it sounds like you can do five now. That gives you an extra chance to try something else.”
Briar Day, from the Pakuranga Athletics Club, said the rain hadn’t put her athletes off.
“They train in all weather, so they have to race in all weather,” Day said.
“This is our first time here. It’s a really nice little city.”
A lot of businesses had been closed when visitors went for a look around,
They train in all weather, so they have to race in all weather.
and it seemed like they didn’t know about the influx of thousands of people over the weekend, Day said.
According to the athletes, the Cooks Gardens track had been amazing to run on.
“It’s a great opportunity to come to Whanganui, and I would come back for sure,” Day said.
There were more than 1000 registered competitors aged between seven and 14 for this year’s event.
On the track, events ranged from 60m to 1500m, with relays also proving popular.
Field events included long jump, high jump, shot put and discus.
Hobbs said it was all about getting experience, and it didn’t matter if you didn’t come first.
“That doesn’t mean you won’t be a successful athlete.”
Briar Day, Pakuranga Athletics Club