AIMS Games off to record breaking start

The elation was written all over his face and the words came thick and fast, between gulps of breath, and pats on the back from congratulating spectators.
Hands on hips, Tauranga Intermediate's Justin Mitchell, couldn't hide his excitment at winning the AIMS Games Year 7 boys' 3km run, at Waipuna Park yesterday.
The first event in the week-long sporting spectacular, which has 3870 intermediate aged competitors, saw Western Bay students take three of the four main cross country titles.
Mitchell said they didn't surprise him.
"I'm just so proud I got first today. We're probably one of the best running schools in New Zealand," he said of his school, Tauranga Intermediate.
Tauranga Intermediate not only won first place in the Year 7 Boys' 3km run, but first place in the Year 7 Girls' 3km run thanks to Keeley Grantham, 12.
The Year 8 Girls' 3km title was taken out by Te Puke Intermediate's Jessica Bitcheno, who smashed the 2006 record set by Peachgrove Intermediate's Holly Sprosen in 2006 (11min 13 sec).
Bitcheno's time was 11min 10sec, and she told the Bay of Plenty Times she felt "awesome".
The Te Puke Intermediate runner had a ding-dong real battle with Kara MacDermid from Monrad Intermediate in Palmerston North, winning by just five seconds. The Monrad runner led for much of the race before being passed in Walnut Grove by Bitcheno.
The Year 8 Boys' 3km title was won by Leo Roper of Bucklands Beach Intermediate.
For the mums and dads and other supporters at Waipuna Park yesterday, it was a proud day, no matter what the placing.
Tauranga's Robyn Grantham, mum of the Year 7 girls' winner, said her daughter had only recently taken up running.
"She's not a runner, she's just fit," she said after giving her daughter a big hug.
Keeley's dad Todd, who followed her around the course with his camera, said he knew his daughter would win.
Keeley, who is a New Zealand champion marcher, will back up and play hockey against Auckland's Sommerville Intermediate today.
AIMS Games tournament director Vicki Semple said staging the crosscountry a day earlier brought rewards of a big crowd at Waipuna Park.
"Fine weather on Fathers Day, and the crosscountry being the only sport staged on the first day, ensured we had a large and enthusiastic crowd of supporters."
In the demanding 12 kilometre mixed relay, Tauranga Intermediate won the long distance race for the sixth time in seven years. Ilminster Intermediate made the early running before Tauranga established a comfortable lead by the half way stage of the gruelling event.
At the finish Tauranga had a 34sec advantage from fellow Western Bay school Otumoetai Intermediate, with Ilminster holding on for bronze.
AIMS Games crosscountry:
Year 7 Girls: 1st Keely Grantham 11m.37sec (Tauranga Int) 2nd Paige Satchall 11.47 (John Paul College) 3rd Kaitlin Petherick 12.11 (Pukekohe Int). Year 7 Boys: 1st Justin Mitchell 11.02 (Tauranga Int) 2nd Alex Revington 11.11 (Tauranga Int) 3rd Mitch Regan 11.17 (St Josephs Whakatane). Year 8 Girls: 1st Jessica Bitcheno 11.10, new race record (Te Puke Int) 2nd Kara MacDermid 11.15 (Monrad Int PN) 3rd Meg Skilton 11.39 (Stanley Ave Primary). Year 8 Boys: 1st Leo Roper 10.21 (Bucklands Beach Int) 2nd Andrew Robinson 10.41 (Tauranga Int) 3rd Dean Stafford 10.46 (St Josephs Wairoa).
Teams:
Year 7 Girls: 1st Tauranga Int 2nd Cobham Int 3rd Matamata Int. Year 7 Boys: 1st Tauranga Int 2nd Otumoetai Int 3rd Ilminster In. Year 8 Girls: 1st Otumoetai Int 2nd Monrad Int 3rd Aquinas College. Year 8 Boys: 1st Tauranga Int 2nd Otumoetai Int 3rd Havelock North Int.
12km championship relay:
1st Tauranga Int 43.51 2nd Otumoetai Int 44.25 3rd Ilminster Int 45.13