Young track stars well supported

With a holler from the large crowd the 5-year-old girls kicked into action at the Carlton School Cross Country. 100913WCBRCCARL01

They ran like the wind and loved every minute of it.

The annual Carlton School Cross Country was run on the school grounds for the first time instead of the traditional Gonville Domain track and the level of support from parents, family and friends was huge.

Despite the strong breeze all heats for the 5 to 10-year-old boys and girls were completed.

Teacher in charge of sport, Gavan Sagar, also a runner of note, decided the school had "a gem of a course", so why not host the cross country at home?

Miller Andrews winner of the 5-year-olds race.

Each age group had their own track marked out with the seniors running the slightly longer course.

The senior boys' race was wide open with the pre-race favourite missing from the lineup.

"Byron Woon called in sick today, but he would have been favourite," Sagar said. "He finished third in the open section of the annual Round The Bridges run in Wanganui earlier in the year and ran the 5km barefoot in 19 minutes."

While many of the children enjoyed a fun day out, most were serious competitors once the large crowd began cheering and clapping.

One parent said her son was up later than normal on the eve of the event googling the fastest man in the world - Usain Bolt.

"He just wanted to see what he ate for breakfast," the proud mum said.

Results of the age group events will run in the Chronicle later in the week.