They were just three among 1650, but the young Dannevirke athletes held their heads high at the North Island Colgate Games in Tauranga.
For Connor Wadley, 10, Matthew King, 9, and Joshua Rautahi, 8, competing against so many athletes could have been overwhelming, but they relished the experience, parent Melissa Wadley said.
"It would have been great if we'd had a few more representatives from Dannevirke, but the boys loved the atmosphere," she said.
"And they looked so proud, walking in the parade. It was special."
Surrounded by a huge number of other competitors may have been daunting, but not for Matthew King.
"It was like going to the Olympics, all the teams paraded with their flags in front of the crowds. We were just three kids from Dannevirke who made lots of friends and had plenty of fun," he said.
"So many of the kids taking part practise all the time and it was a bit of a shock to see how good some of them were."
The three-day event which attracted 1650 athletes aged 7 to 14, representing 102 clubs nationwide, is in its 34th year and this year a team of 90 top athletes from Australia used the games as a training platform.
"The Australian athletes were in New Zealand for a track meet in Auckland and came to the Colgate Games as part of their training. They were so advanced in their abilities and although they weren't eligible to win medals and ribbons, it was an eye-opener to see them compete," Melissa said.
Two of the Dannevirke trio, Matthew and Joshua brought home finalist ribbons, but for Connor, at his second Colgates, stepping up an age grade was a hard ask.
"Our three all finished their races, enjoyed the experience and made new friends. That's what the Colgate Games are all about," parent Sandie King, said.
"At the Dannevirke Athletics Club there are only three competitors in the 9-year-old boys' events, at the Colgates my son Matthew was competing against 60 or 70. It's a whole different league."
With the next North Island Colgate Games being held in early January next year in Inglewood, Melissa and Sandie are hoping more Dannevirke athletes will compete at the event.
In the meantime, the Dannevirke Athletic Club's weekly meets begin again on Wednesday, February 1, at the upper Domain at 5.30pm.