Ready, set, ... gold! Hawke's Bay youth shine at athletics comp

Hana Symes, 10, and Jack Johnston, 10, from Hastings Athletic Club, had a great weekend at the North Island Colgate Games taking home seven individual gold medals between them. Photo / Paul Taylor

A group of Hawke's Bay athletes returned home from the North Island Colgate Games last weekend with several gold medals between them.

Despite "feeling nervous", 10-year-old Hana Symes took home four gold medals of her own, as well as one gold for the medley relay and a silver in high jump.

She said she was proud to win gold in the 100m, 200m, 400m and long jump.

"They were quite heavy around my neck.

"It felt really cool because I got to go on the podium.

"I felt proud of myself."

Having run since she was about 5 years old, Symes said she had been working especially hard with her coach Willy Stephenson, from Tikokino.

She said she also listened to her dad's advice - "do the mahi, get the treats".

Fellow Hastings Athletic Club member Jack Johnston also placed well at the competition - his first Colgate Games.

The 10-year-old won three individual gold medals - in the 400m, 800m and 1500m races - as well as being part of the gold medley relay team.

While his mum said he could run before he could walk, Johnston's success didn't come without sacrifice, such as forgoing family takeaways from McDonald's.

While 10-year-old Hana Symes' favourite event is the 400m, 10-year-old Jack Johnston prefers endurance with the 1500m. Photo / Paul Taylor

Hastings Athletic Club chairwoman Sharee Jones said it was great to see their "little club punch above its weight" at such a high level.

"I am hugely proud of the team achieving great heights already this year."

She described both Symes and Johnston as "exceptional" athletes.

"She is excelling, as shown by the recent results. It's fantastic to see how many medals, pennants, personal bests and finalists she and the others had over the three days.

"It has been awesome watching the process of our junior club athletes and the progression through to the senior - especially with the likes of Georgia Hulls, Briana Stephenson and Nick Palmer all going through Colgates and now reaching national honour."

The Dannevirke Athletics Club had two athletes compete this year - Georgie and Will Hogan. Photo / Supplied

The club had several other gold medallists with Tyler Stanton taking first place in long jump and discus, Ezra Andrews first in shot put, Amponsaa Tabi-Amponsah first in 100m, Lucy Strong and Aurora Johnston both first their 200m races.

The Dannevirke Athletics Club had two athletes compete this year - Georgie and Will Hogan.

While Georgie didn't place, Will won his 60m, 100m, long jump, discus and shot put divisions.

Napier Athletic Club also had a few members represent, with Holly Savage taking bronze in the long jump and 100m, and Lucas Nairn collecting a bronze in 200m.