Town and (cross) country combine
Saturday saw the return of the Nelson schools cross-country league for another year, with more than 400 kids lining up at Rabbit Island in four races for primary, intermediate and secondary school athletes.
Co-organiser Amanda Young said the four-week series offered an ideal way to introduce junior athletes to cross-country running, while providing useful training for competitive racers.
‘‘We try to make it a proper, undulating course, up and down the sand dunes, over roots and all natural things we can find - even puddles and mud if we can - that’s what the kids love,’’ Young said.
‘‘This is more to get the kids into running- any kid can do it from any school - they don’t even have to go to school, and it’s really run as a practice series for them.’’
For the first time in 2017, the primary school competitors were separated to allow for the large number of preschool, Year 1 and Year 2 children joining in.
Races are run over a 1km course, with the younger or casual kids completing one lap, the competitive primary kids running two laps and the college runners completing three.
Young said the primary and intermediate top 10 finishers were largely made up of regional and schools representatives.
‘‘There’s always a few unexpecteds, which is great, but most of the older kids in each agegroup are using it as race practice and to keep fit because they do have their own school and regional races coming up.’’
There is no lower age limit, as long as children are able to complete the race. Schools may send any number of runners they wish. Children do not need to be affiliated to a school and do not need to attend all races.
All runners will be scored points but the first four finishers in from each school count as the team score on the day. The primary school scores are taken from the competitive 2 km race.
Young said the points system encouraged healthy competition.
‘‘The kids all feel good about themselves and they like to compare the points and like to know where they come each day, and then the schools get really competitive too.’’
By the end of the first afternoon’s racing, the college and intermediate girls and boys points went to Nelson Intermediate and Nelson College Preparatory, respectively.
Hampden School emerged as the frontrunners in the boys and girls primary 2km categories.
While pleased with the current crop of youngsters doing the rounds, Young said the long term goal was to increase the number of schools participating.
‘‘You tend to have a wide variance of schools - you always have schools that have a lot of runners like Hampden Street but we’re getting a few from Ranzau or Motueka South and Auckland Point - Tasman [School] are pretty strong as well.’’
Organisers of the league also hoped to boost the number of college kids involved in the league, with athletics stalwart Phil Costley joining the team in a bid to hone local talent.
Branford Park hosts the next round of cross-country this Saturday before the final two rounds at Saxton Field on the 20th and an as-yet unconfirmed venue on the 27th.