Kamo runners clear tricky hurdle to reach AIMS Games

The Kamo Intermediate cross country team taking on the AIMS Games. Photo / John Stone

Kamo Intermediate's cross country team have managed to get themselves to the AIMS Games through a strong work ethic and a bit of help from the Northland public.

The 12-strong team are heading to Tauranga to compete in what is considered an individual sport, meaning they were not entitled to team funding from the school.

This kicked off a team fundraising effort to get them to the competition.

Team organiser Angela Young said they had a lot of people to thank for their help.

"Northland people have been extremely generous in supporting our team by purchasing raffle tickets and donating products," she said.

"We sold business carparks to the British and Irish Lions rugby game and that was very successful.

"RaDCar Hire offered us a significant discount for a van to use so our team can travel together. Without generosity such as this we would have had to take several cars to Tauranga."

The kids have been training since March three times a week as well as doing other winter sports.

The AIMS cross country is a 3km individual event immediately followed by a team event where each runner takes a 1km leg on the 12km track.

Kamo Intermediate join 17 other Northland schools at the AIMS, or Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools, Games. It is a yearly tournament held in Tauranga.

The other 15 schools are Dargaville Intermediate, Huanui College, Kaikohe Intermediate, Kaingaroa School, Kaitaia Intermediate, Kerikeri High School, Otamatea High School, Parua Bay School, Pompallier Catholic College, Purua School, Ruawai College, Springbank School, Taipa Area School, Te Kapehu Whetu, Tikipunga High School, Whangarei Intermediate and Whangaroa College.

AIMS Games are a sporting championship that provides Year 7 and 8 students with an opportunity to compete as an individual or as a team against the best of their age in 22 different sports.

The aim is to give students in their intermediate years a taste of competing at an elite level, getting them active, celebrating fair play and enjoying success.

More than 10,000 athletes from 303 schools will compete in 22 sports, including para sport for the first time.

The games kicked off yesterdayand run all week.