On track for winning TRYathlon designs

CREATIVE THINKING: Otonga School 10-year-olds (from left) Ella Hill, Fin Gielen-Lilley and Josiah Bachmann modelling their athletics gear made from just CourierPost Trackpacks and basic materials. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 061213SP3

Otonga School students have put their fashion design skills to the test using CourierPost Trackpacks.

About 65 children took part in yesterday's CourierPost "Give it a TRY" project competition in the lead-up to tomorrow's Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon.

Pupils across the whole school were given just 50 minutes to put together a creative piece of triathlon racewear using the CourierPost Trackpack and a few other basic arts and crafts materials.

Year 5/6 teacher and sports co-ordinator Gareth Cunliffe said students competed in three categories - senior, middle and junior.

Year 5 pupil Fin Gielen-Lilley, 10, won the senior section. The middle category winner was Year 4 student Skye Du Plessis, 8, and her younger brother, Year 2 pupil Liam Du Plessis, 7, won the junior category. The trio received prizes donated and signed by Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon athlete ambassador and Olympian Valerie Adams.

Mr Cunliffe said the three entries were chosen for their creativity and design.

"They stuck to the [design] brief."

Mr Cunliffe said the children were all "pumped" during the competition.

"They all enjoyed the activity and they all produced something special, so that was cool."

He had encouraged the pupils to wear their creations during tomorrow's TRYathlon but he was unsure if they would.