Cooks Gardens about to buzz

CHANGEOVER: The Collegiate junior girls 4x100 relay team, Grace Godfrey (left), Sophie Ensor, Kate, Tylee and Lisa Lin practise their baton exchange in the lead-up to the national Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships at the weekend.PHOTO/GAYELENE HOLLY JUNIOR-RELAY

EXACTLY one year ago, Wanganui was formally granted the hosting of the 42nd NZ Secondary Schools Track & Field and the 40th Road Race Championships. At that time, Wanganui athletes were enjoying the excitement of an away championships in Hamilton joining nearly 1500 other athletes from schools throughout New Zealand.

Our athletes were unaware that they had an even more exciting event ahead this year. Home championships are always exciting and Wanganui athletes have a good record at the previous two NZ Schools Championships held at Cooks Gardens and at the three North Island championships at the start of the millennium.

A year passes quickly and our athletes are only two days away from competing and striving for their personal goals.

A total of 1450 athletes from 213 schools is the final entry count, which places this as one of the largest meetings held outside a main centre in the event's history. In fact, there are only 25 fewer athletes competing in Wanganui than at Hamilton, which has always been the largest meeting. Athletes have come from throughout the country, as well as two schools from Tonga and the Cook Islands.

A total of 77 athletes from six Wanganui district schools are competing, with the majority (64) from Collegiate School.

Many of the athletes had a good final work-out at club night on Tuesday and all hope for the same perfect conditions at the weekend, which after the spring we have had would be welcome.

The championships have provided an economic boost to the town and I am delighted with the response from volunteers.

We still have a few slots to fill in some small duties, such as staffing the car park and even at this late stage, if anyone can give some time towards that task, we would love to hear from you.

The track events start at 9am on Saturday and runs until 8.15pm.

Sunday's track events start at the same time, and end at 5pm with the relays. All of the three main gates are open for entry and spectators can buy a weekend pass for $15 (the day cost being $10). There is a wonderful opportunity, however, to be a spectator at the road race at Kowhai Park on Sunday morning where there is no charge, and this will provide an opportunity to see the cream of NZ school road runners in action. The six races start at 8am with the Year 9 girls, and end with the senior boys at 10am.