JUNIOR ATHLETICS - Post Olympic boom expected from junior athletes

Northland is expecting a wave of new junior athletes this season with the Olympic performances of sprinter Usain Bolt, and closer to home Valerie Vili, creating plenty of interest the sport.
The organisation's Audrey Williams said there is normally an upswing in interest in the sport every four years, because school's often hold mini-Olympics before the main event hogs the airwaves and people's attention. ``Then the kids get to try some of the athletics events and later want to continue on with them,' she said.
Athletics Northland is already expecting a bumper season, with the completion of the all-weather track at Kensington Park expected in the new year.
"The all-weather track will certainly give the young people a lift, because obviously it makes a big difference to have a track to train and compete on," she said.
Williams has been instrumental in reviving some of the area's clubs in time for the season's start in October.
"I went up to Kaitaia last week to get the club restarted up there, and we also started Taipa and Whangarei Harbour last season," she said.
Athletics in the Bream Bay/Waipu area is also expected to start up again this year, with the Waipu Caledonian Society enthusiastically making Caledonian Park available for a proposed Waipu Athletics Club.
There are also plans to start clubs in Dargaville and Ruawai.
"The Waipu Caledonian Society is very much in favour of the idea of the park being use for athletics again, as it will give hundreds of children in the Bream Bay area an opportunity to be involved in a healthy and fun sports activity," the society's Wayne Laurence said.
Laurence said athletics has been one of the main events - along with the Highland Heavyweight events - at the annual Waipu Caledonian Highland Games since 1871. The society was pleased Athletics Northland had chosen the Caledonian Park for their plans for the future of the sport.
The interest is there from the children, Williams said, but it's just a matter of finding the people to carry out the administration for the new clubs.
"Of course it's very difficult these days when both parents usually work and their time is limited," she said.
There are already established junior clubs at Whangarei, Whangarei Harbour, Kamo, Kerikeri, Taipa, Kaikohe, Kaiwaka, Wellsford and Hatea, and with the possibility of four new clubs it could be a bumper season.
"Athletics in Northland is growing already and we hope that this year will be an even bigger year than last year," Williams said.
For further information about athletics in your area, call Audrey on (09) 459 1931.