AIMS GAMES: Cross Country

A local student has broken a record on the Cross Country course on the first day of the NZCT AIMS GAMES competition.

The ninth annual Games kicked off on Sunday with the Cross Country event and the opening ceremony, held at the TECT Arena.

At the Cross Country Championships, Samuel Tanner of Tahatai Coast School set a race record with his winning time of 10 minutes 35 seconds in the Division 1 boys race.

This time was 11 seconds ahead of the previous record-holder _ Isiah Priddley of Hamilton's Peachgrove Intermediate School, which was set in 2011.

Otumoetai Intermediate School's Arleah Tippins won the Division 1 girls event with a time of 12 minutes 2 seconds.

Georgia Clode of Baradene College won the Division 2 event (11:14) while Bradley Christison of Tutira School edged ahead of Theodore Quax of Farm Cove Intermediate for first place in the Division 2 boys event, with a time of 10 minutes 12 seconds.

Tournament director Vicki Semple said the Division 2 boys' race was extremely close between first and second place.

"It was a sprint to the finish between the two and it really was a photo finish," she said.

"The results show the same time but one would have edged ahead of the other and it would have been a split second difference."

Tauranga Intermediate School took out the School Championship 12km relay.

Ms Semple said the event was supported by a large crowd, which created "a wonderful atmosphere".

For full results please see www.nzaimsgames.co.nz

Video supplied by NZ AIMS GAMES: