Rotorua athletes score top spots early in secondary schools waka ama champs

2019 National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships at Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake). Photo / Supplied

Almost 2000 rangatahi from across New Zealand are in the thick of competition at the 2019 National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships at Tikitapu (Blue Lake), Rotorua.

The event began yesterday with a pōwhiri given by local iwi and mana whenua – Tūhourangi to guide the team through the week's races.

The day began with a pōwhiri given by local iwi and mana whenua - Tūhourangi. Photo / Supplied

Tikitapu was calm and the sun was warm yesterday, but todaylooks to be a different story, with light showers and cloud expected.

A display of sportsmanship at the National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships 2019. Photo / Supplied

The W1's (1-person waka), and W12's (12-person waka) competition heats, semi-finals, and championships were held yesterday.

John Paul College's Mikayla Timoti blew the field away when she won her under-19 girls W1 250m final by two seconds.

Makayla Timoti (front right) with her under-16 girls team in 2015. Photo / File

Rotorua Lakes High School's Kyra Mita was just behind in third place.

Rotorua Lakes High School's Kyra Mita. Photo / File

Meanwhile, in the under-16 girls W1 250m final, Rotorua Girls' High School's Khobi Aretoa won the final by one second, with a time of 1 minute, 13.73 seconds.

In the under-16 mixed W12 250m final, Te Kura Kaupapa o Ruamata finished in third place.

The Matarangi boat finished with a time of 1 minute, 0.79 seconds.

Gisborne Girls' High School history teacher, Laurie Harrison, had never been to a waka ama event until she arrived yesterday.

She said: "Every school should have this... I'm just blown away. You want a positive for Te Ao Māori; this is it."

An enthusiastic crew at the National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships 2019. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua schools' top results

U16 Mixed - WT12 250m Plate Semi 1 / 2 1:38 PM Lane Time
1st Tairawhiti J16 Gisborne Boys High School 4 1:03.59
2nd NPGHS/ Hastings Boys New Plymouth Girls' High School 2 1:08.14
3rd Lakes High Rotorua Lakes High School 9 1:08.93

U16 Girls - W1 250m Plate Semi 1 / 2 1:46 PM Lane Time
1st HAPI, Ngatuire Te Kura O Ngati Rongomai 7 1:19.96
2nd HUDSON, Marewa-I-Te-Rangi John Paul College 5 1:22.60
3rd TARAPA, Keziah Pukekohe High School 4 1:23.85

Talented Rotorua sportswoman Ngatuire Hapi (left) competing in the Te Arawa Games last year. Photo / File

U16 Mixed - WT12 250m Plate Semi 2 / 2 1:53 PM Lane Time
1st Mahi Pups - TKKM o Kaikohe Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kaikohe 6 1:05.54
2nd Pukeiaahua / Ngaahia Ngaruawahia High School 4 1:08.20
3rd Matawera Te Kura Kaupapa o Ruamata 2 1:09.70

U19 Mixed - WT12 250m Plate Semi 1 / 2 2:07 PM Lane Time
1st Pukekohe High Pukekohe High School 11 1:04.24
2nd Matapono Te Kura Kaupapa o Ruamata 7 1:05.52
3rd Napier girls Waipureku/ Te Aratika Napier Girls High School 10 1:05.60

U16 Mixed - WT12 250m Champ Semi 2 / 2 2:48 PM Lane Time
1st Matarangi Te Kura Kaupapa o Ruamata 5 1:00.72
2nd Turanga Wahine Turanga Tane Gisborne Boys High School 6 1:00.80
3rd Ngaruawahia / Hakarimata Ngaruawahia High School 7 1:01.83

U19 Girls - W1 250m Plate Semi 2 / 2 2:52 PM Lane Time
1st PHILLIPS-NASSIF, Maria New Plymouth Girls' High School 7 1:32.56
2nd TANGIRA, Te Mihiroa Trident High School 6 1:33.67
3rd HAVERCAMP, Ihipera Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Koutu 4 1:34.40

U16 Girls - W1 250m Champ Semi 1 / 2 3:20 PM Lane Time
1st PARETOA, Khobi Rotorua Girls' High School 6 1:16.72
2nd HENARE, Te Rangihuia Te Kura a Iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua 5 1:19.28
3rd HENRY, Kiara Whangarei Girls' High School 7 1:19.94

U16 Girls - W1 250m Plate Final 3:53 PM Lane Time
1st TENETI, Kelsey Lytton High School 6 1:18.96
2nd HAPI, Ngatuire Te Kura O Ngati Rongomai 7 1:22.24
3rd SMITH-NANSEN, Serenity Mt Albert Grammar School 4 1:24.22

U16 Mixed - WT12 250m Champ Final 4:18 PM Lane Time
1st Rakaumanga W12 16's Te Wharekura O Rakaumangamanga 6 0:59.34
2nd Turanga Wahine Turanga Tane Gisborne Boys High School 5 0:59.84
3rd Matarangi Te Kura Kaupapa o Ruamata 7 1:00.79

U16 Girls - W1 250m Champ Final 4:28 PM Lane Time
1st PARETOA, Khobi Rotorua Girls' High School 7 1:13.73
2nd PEWHAIRANGI, Te Aomihia Te Wharekura O Rakaumangamanga 5 1:14.71
3rd WHARAKURA, Awatea Fraser High School 6 1:15.32

U19 Girls - W1 250m Champ Final 4:46 PM Lane Time
1st TIMOTI, Makayla John Paul College 6 1:10.72
2nd WILLIAMS, Rangi-Riana Gisborne Girls High School 7 1:12.98
3rd MITA, Kyra Rotorua Lakes High School 8 1:15.04