‘Super-excited’ kids take on inter-school cross-country

YOUNG athletes from around the district put their running shoes to the turf yesterday in what was one of the biggest school get-togethers since the pandemic struck.

Four hundred and forty students from 21 schools were registered in the Primary Inter-School Cross-Country at Showgrounds Park.

A little more competitive than the runs a lot of schools have been holding internally over the last few months, the inter-school was still a fun atmosphere but with serious competition thrown in.

“Definitely the sun was a help. It set the tone and we haven't been able to run the event for a couple of years,” said Penny Scragg from Awapuni School, who hosted the event.

“The kids were super-excited to be out there and we certainly have some fast kids around the area — that's for sure.”

The event was postponed from term one because of the Omicron Covid variant.

Penny said parent helpers turned out in the sunshine to help the day run smoothly.

“A big shout out to Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti as well. We couldn't have done it without them, and to the Girls' High students who were the course marshalls.”

Years 3 and 4 competitors ran over a two-kilometre circuit, while years 5 and 6 did a 3km course.

RESULTS — Year 3, girls: Hayley Torkington (Makaraka) 1; Ella Cook (Rere) 2; Scarlette Ngarimu-Brown (St Mary's) 3.

Boys: Monty Nikora (Central) 1; Max Bryant (Te Wharau) 2; Sebastian Botma (Wainui Beach) 3.

Year 4, girls: Maycee Foss (St Marys) 1; Ivy Stewart (Wainui) 2; Nevaeh O'Dwyer (Mangapapa) 3.

Boys: Nikau Leach (Mangapapa) 1; Bodhi West-Hill (Wainui) 2; Otto Jerome (Wainui) 3.

Year 5, girls: Milly Edwards (Mangapapa) 1; Shiloh Ripia-Barbarich (Kaiti); Brooke Williams (Wainui) 3.

Boys: Patrick Trafford (Tolaga Bay) 1; Manu Dengu (Tolaga Bay) 2; Jae Wilson (Wainui) 3.

Year 6, girls: Haley Rolls (Mangapapa) 1; Bailey Garrett-Kora (Te Wharau) 2; Billie-Mae Mackintosh (St Mary's) 3.

Boys: Jaxon Pardoe (Te Wharau) 1; Moss Crick (Wainui) 2; Arthur Tilghman (Wainui) 3.

Overall school rankings: Mangapapa and Wainui 98pts, 1st-equal; Te Wharau 41, 2nd; Tolaga Bay Area School 40, 4th; Central 35, 5th; St Mary's 28, 6th; Sonrise 23, 7th; Makaraka 18, 8th; Makauri 17, 9th; Awapuni 12, 10th.