Big push to grow athletics in Tai Tokerau

04 Oct, 2021

A major drive is underway to grow athletics in Northland.

Junior Athletics Whangarei is hosting its inaugural open day on October 17 at Trigg Stadium, Park Avenue, Whangarei, and wants Northlanders from throughout Kaipara, Whangarei and the Far North to ‘come and have a go’.

Kirstin Dickens, one of the organisers driving the event, says anyone from seven years to 107 are welcome to attend the two hour event (10am-12pm).

“We want to seriously boost participation levels in athletics because we have this amazing facility in Whangarei and it simply is not being utilised anywhere near enough by our community. So we are hoping for a really good turnout of primary, intermediate and secondary school students from around Northland,” says Ms Dickens.

“In the 2020/21 season I worked with an awesome bunch of passionate parents to really breathe some life into our junior athletics and we lifted our numbers from 50 to 120 children aged seven to 14. We want to take that to another level this season and have children from throughout attend our weekly fun sessions, plus other activities throughout the season.”

The open day is a chance for people to have a go at running events, hurdles, long jump, high jump, shot put and discus.

“We are all volunteers running the club and we just want to do our best to give youngsters the chance to experience athletics and receive good coaching to hone their skills. Athletics is just so good for children and it would be nice to one day look back and see that this was the catalyst for producing some Northland track and field Olympians and world champions!”

n Contact the Junior Track & Field committee at juniorathleticswhangarei@gmail.com, call Kirstin on 021 729 660, speak to a team member on club nights from term four or check out facebook.com/JuniorAthleticsWhangarei.

The Athletics Whangarei open day is a chance for people to have a go at running events, hurdles, long jump, high jump, shot put and discus. PHOTO/SUPPLIED