The Kaitaia Athletics Club recommenced for the final term of the 2013 summer last Tuesday evening on the Kaitaia College bottom fields, where the first item on the agenda was to celebrate the achievements of the team which travelled to the North Island Colgate Games in Whangarei over the schoolholidays.
Tamariki who competed at the event brought their singlets, along with those trophies and certificates won in last month's event. Head coach Jaqi Brown said the contingent's results were remarkable, both individually, with numerous medals ribbons and personal bests recorded, and collectively, especially considering this was the first time the club had entered a team in the Colgate Games.
"It was awesome!" she said, thanking the side's management as well. "Our club looked good, the athletes all supported each other, really did ourselves proud and we are already planning on sending a squad down to next year's event in Wellington."
The team in the accompanying image which represented the Kaitaia Athletics Club at the North Island Colgate Games in Whangarei from January 10-12 were, as pictured from left, Stephen Allen and Donna Scutt (both managers), Sonny Boy Heighway, Maggie Allen, Jayden Kiwikiwi, Agnes Allen, Rua Pounamu Herbert Brown, Michael Brown, Liana Brown, Jacinta Van der Linden, Kobie Scutt, Te Ruawai Herbert Brown, Alexis Ujdur, Matea Rose Matijvich Wiki, Jaqi Brown (head coach), Aleisha Ujdur. Absent from Tuesday's photo shoot were Kobe Morey, Eternity Hanara, Johnte Hanara, Justin Job, Robert Jordan, John Henry Martin, Kilarney Morey, Jasmine Murray, Levi Taueki Scott, Merania Taueki Scott, Sia Herbert Williams.
Standout athletes - i.e. those who reached the top 8 of their respective age grade - included Mateya Rose Matijvich Wiki for throwing to gold in the 10-year girls' javelin; Rua Pounamu Herbert Brown, bronze in 10-year girls' 1200m walk; Kobie Scutt, bronze in 10-year boys' shotput with a throw 9.75m and also 5th overall with 22.2m in the discus; Jacinta Van der Linden, finalist in the 14-year girls' high jump; Leana Brown bronze in the 9-year girls' shotput with 5.21m; and Kobe Morey, finalist in the 10-year boys' 200m eventually finishing 5th.
