Hastings last staged the annual Colgate Games in 2011. PHOTO/FILE
FOR Jill Waru athletics is the basis of every sport and if every child could engage in some code the world would be a better place.
"In most sports you have a run, jump and throw aspect to them so in athletics they can build a very good skills base," says Waru.
She should know because she has been involved with the Colgate Games since 1987.
The Central Hawke's Bay College teacher also is excited after it was announced today that registrations open for the 39th Colgate Games to be staged in Hastings from January 6-8 next year. The HB Sports Regional Park last staged the games in 2011.
Invercargill will host the second leg of the country's supreme National Junior Athletics Championship, for thousands of aspiring athletes between 7 to 14 years, from January 13-15.
Waru has competed in junior athletics in sprinting, hurdling and high jumping after PE teacher Eric Hogg's encouragement to be active when she was a pupil at Kereru School.
"I can still hear him say, 'You can do all sorts of sports if you can do athletics'," recalls Waru, who later attended Iona College in Havelock North.
"I did athletics right through teachers' training college."
It was a "no-brainer" for the grandmother to roll up her sleeves when she discovered there was an athletics club not long after she became a CHB College staff member.
Not surprisingly her three children, Aaron, Shanee and Ivan, competed at the games.
In January, Waru will have the pleasure of continuing her labour of love with the annual event while keeping an eye out for her 7-year-old grandson, Keegan Waru, of Flemington School, making his debut.
"He'll be running, jumping and, knowing Keegan, he'll do anything else he can do," says Waru who is recovering from leg surgery on October 27 and last night made her first appearance since then at the college grounds for the club junior athletes' night training.
"I'm still on crutches so Aaron's doing the training for me."
Waru, who took time out from teaching PE, social studies and tourism for motherhood, says the CHB club has an open-door policy on families bringing children as young as three to participate on the weekly Wednesday night meetings.
Realising enjoyment was a key factor in her and her children's involvement in athletics, she didn't need a robust sales pitch to sell the concept.
She has been a member of the New Zealand Children's Athletics Association (NZCAA) since 1989 and regards herself more as an official rather than a mentor during her more than three decades of involvement.
Starting races, timekeeping and marshalling sandpits through to the annual Allan and Sylvia Potts Memorial Classic in Hastings has been her passion.
It wasn't until she received a long service gong to community at this year's CHB Sports Awards in Waipukurau that it dawned on her how long she has been involved with the code.
"I didn't realise how long it was until the sports awards ... it blew me away so I was very humbled but also very proud that I could do it. I do it because I love it," she says, emphasising it drives the message home stronger when others endorse that input.
The Colgate Games "doesn't have records so competing against themselves to get personal best [times]" becomes a catalyst for more than 1400 youngsters over three days and they become accustomed to achieving rather than winning and losing.
"They compete against themselves to be better at the end of the season compared to what they were at the start of it," she says, pointing out only three people can get on the podium so those who finish 4th-7th tend to be "over the moon" about posting PBs.
"The under-10s get a pennants [medal] for participation so every kid has fun."
The CHB club chairwoman says it has 86 members but the goal is to reach 100.
Waru salutes the sponsors for keeping the country's youngsters active.
Colgate general manager John Garside says the outstanding performance of New Zealanders like Eliza McCartney at the Rio Olympics has renewed youngsters' interest in athletics.
"For Colgate it's all about encouraging participation in junior athletics, championing good sportsmanship, and supporting healthy lifestyles," says Garside of a company that has sponsored the games since 1978.
NZCAA president Brian Cockeram says coaches and clubs have worked closely with their athletes to prepare them for the games.
"Athletics is accessible for kids, no matter the size of their local club. What's more, hurdles, high jump, long jump and shotput are great fun for spectators," says Cockeram, revealing it keeps the community spirit of sportsmanship burning.
Colgate has provided four scholarships named after Colgate Games alumnus and Olympian Nick Willis, worth $500 each to athletes who display outstanding performance.