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Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui’s Cooks Gardens to host all-ability and secondary school athletics

Whanganui Chronicle
9 Mar, 2026 11:00 PM2 mins to read

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Athletes in action in the 3000m race at 2025's Whanganui Secondary School Athletics Championships at Cooks Gardens. Photo / Sport Whanganui

Athletes in action in the 3000m race at 2025's Whanganui Secondary School Athletics Championships at Cooks Gardens. Photo / Sport Whanganui

Cooks Gardens is hosting two days of athletics with the Mitre 10 Mega Whanganui All-Ability Athletics Day and Whanganui Secondary School Athletics Championships.

The events will run a day apart, with the all-ability event on Wednesday and the secondary school event on Thursday.

Sport Whanganui is facilitating the track and field action across both days.

This is the second time the all-ability athletics, launched in 2025, has been held.

Supported by the Halberg Foundation, the event is based on traditional athletics days but aims to be inclusive for young people with disabilities to take part in physical activity in ways that best suit them.

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Participants will rotate through jumping and throwing activities, running and wheelchair races, and finish with a fun relay.

Sport Whanganui disability and inclusion lead Sarah Craig said the event was designed to ensure every participant felt welcomed and supported.

“The All-Ability Day is about creating a space where everyone can take part, have fun and try new sports and physical activities in a way that suits their individual needs and preferences,” Craig said.

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About 70 young people, with their teachers and support people, participated in the inaugural event, Craig said.

“We are excited to welcome everyone back and hopefully see some new faces ready to give it a go and be active,” she said.

The programme will be split into two sessions with primary school students in the morning, followed by secondary students in the afternoon.

Spectators are invited to watch the action, with the activities starting at 10am.

The Whanganui Secondary School Athletics Championships will showcase track and field athletes as they represent their schools.

About 350 students are expected to take part, including athletes from all Whanganui secondary schools plus Rangitīkei College, Ruapehu College and Taihape Area School.

Event winners will qualify for the North Island Secondary Schools Championships in Papakura on March 28-29.

Sport Whanganui, Athletics Wanganui and community volunteers are supporting the event.

Students who want to take part in the All-Ability Day can register through their school.

For any inquiries, contact Sarah Craig at Sport Whanganui, email sarahc@sportwhanganui.co.nz.

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