She said it was "unbelievable" to see Keegan do well.
"It is just magical - I'm really proud he has come through and is enjoying what he is doing," she said.
She had no time to loiter because the Central Hawke's Bay College teacher was also officiating this weekend at the athletic club's games for children, as she has for more than 30 years.
The three-day competition of more than 200 events for athletes aged 7 to 14 wrapped up yesterday, with representatives from 93 North Island clubs. It is New Zealand's largest National Junior Athletics Championship. A South Island equivalent is being held in Invercargill this coming weekend.
For ages 7 and 8 athletes are divided into divisions, with each division having winners and an Olympic-style award ceremony. Other age groups have qualifying heats before overall winners are decided.
The games don't keep records - it is an open participatory event.
The Waru family belong to the Central Hawke's Bay Athletic Club and Mrs Waru is also a member of the New Zealand Children's Athletic Association.
Attending the Colgate Games is a Waru family ritual - every year they incorporate it into their holiday plans.
They usually camp but at next year's 40th anniversary of the National Junior Athletics North Island event in Auckland they will stay with relatives.
For $5 each Hastings engraver Allyssa Harris wrote the winner's name, event and time on 200 medals.
Meeting secretary and Hamilton resident Sandra Murray said the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park games were a resounding success.
"Our local organising committee has done an amazing job, the weather has helped and everyone has been busily enjoying the events," she said.
Her son has outgrown the event but she remains an active supporter.
"It is the people you work with and it is a nice weekend away, seeing different parts of the country."
She said watching grandchildren compete was "not for a while yet".
"One day I'm sure they will."
