The annual Toll Kaitaia Run/Walk which takes place on Sunday, August 14, this year represents the fifth leg of seven in the popular Sport Northland Run/ Walk Series.
Again walkers and runners will be given the option of picking either the longer 12.5km route or shorter 4.6 km option. Thestart gun will fire for the runners to set off at 9am with the walkers following straight afterwards. The shorter 4.6 km option will finish at the Oturu School where free buses will transport the participants back to the Te Ahu Centre for prizegiving, while the 12.5km event will continue around the Church Road loop to the finish line at the Te Ahu Centre.
Organisers say More FM radio station will once again host the post event prizegiving at the Te Ahu Centre from 11.30am where lots of great spot prizes will be won including tourist trips, thermal gear, a bike, sports shoe vouchers plus a tablet. As well, all Northland adults who enter the event will also go into the draw to win a Mazda 2 (which will be drawn two weeks after the final event in the series, the Kerikeri Half Marathon in November).
The final two events in the series are the Whangarei Half Marathon and 9km Run/ Walk on Sunday, September 18 (to start and finish at the Whangarei Town Basin), and the Kerikeri Half Marathon on Saturday, November 19.
Organisers said the first three events in the this year's run/ walk series were dominated by top Northland runners, Harry Linford and Carolyn Younger. However with both unable to compete in the Baylys 2 Dargaville Run/Walk in June, the event leaderboard is now wide open with an opportunity for Katie McVerry (Whangarei) and Louis Young (Warkworth) to climb to the top if they win their respective sections at the Kaitaia event.
Sport Northland spokeswoman Colleen Atchison said that organisers were rapt to announce a local business had claimed the naming rights for the Kaitaia event.
"Sponsorship makes it possible to stage events, so we are grateful for not only for Toll's support of the Kaitaia event, but for all the extra help and assistance they give to Sport Northland."
-Entries for the Kaitaia Run/ Walk close on August 10 and can be made online at www.runwalkseries.co.nz or by contacting Sport Northland directly.
