Rio Olympian Eliza McCartney presented the women's pole vault prizes at Saturday's event. Photo / Warren Buckland
Rio Olympian Eliza McCartney presented the women's pole vault prizes at Saturday's event. Photo / Warren Buckland
Inspiring the next generation of athletes, raising money for a good cause, and breaking records was all in a day's work for the four Olympians at last weekend's Allan and Sylvia Potts Classic.
The annual event was held on Saturday at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park, where about 180 athletes competed in athletic events from shot put to pole vault.
Meeting manager Richard Potts said the day had gone really well.
About 750 spectators had spent time at the sports park, with the day was divided into a kids' meeting in the morning, and senior meeting in the afternoon.
Amongst the crowd were four Olympians, which "had a very special effect" on the whole day, he said.
Although they did not compete, runner and event regular Nick Willis, and pole vaulter Eliza McCartney were also at the event to sign autographs and meet fans.
Ms McCartney - who shot to fame with a bronze at the Rio Olympics - also had her meeting record of 4.20m in the women's pole vault broken by Olivia McTaggart.
Both Olympians had arrived for the last hour of the kids' meet in the morning - two youth running groups had enjoyed racing Mr Willis around the track, while there had been "a long line of kids" waiting to meet Ms McCartney.
Shotputter Jacko Gill and runner Angie Petty who went to the Rio Olympics each won events in their codes - with Mrs Petty winning the feature women's 800m race for the eighth time.
Mr Potts said the athletes being at the event gave children someone to look up to.
"The only way to promote the sport is have your heroes around, that way they [kids] can see them perform," he said.
Eliza McCartney presents the women's pole vault first prize to Olivia McTaggart. Photo / Warren Buckland
Mr Willis - who had competed at the event "in the early days" - showed this.
"He started off just as one of these guys that were running," Mr Potts said. "It just proves if you come out and work hard you never know where you'll end up."
With higher spectator numbers than last year, Mr Potts said he thought the four athletes had also brought an extra couple of hundred people to the sports park.
Last night Mr Potts said he had already been told the events gold coin donation would mean $1300 in proceeds would be going to the Cancer Society.
Another $2000 would be donated from the Sylvia Potts Memorial Charitable Trust.