Four young Wairarapa sprinters have grabbed gold at a North Island athletics event, leaving the opposition in their dust despite never having run a relay before.
Edward Hewitt, Raymond Andrews-Paul, Zane Hancox and Dhruv Raman won the 4x100 metre relay at the North Island Colgate Games in Hastings on Sunday.
The four
runners, all 14 years old, set a blistering pace throughout the race, coming home in 48.4 seconds.
The time meant the foursome finished well ahead of its nearest opposition, a team from Fairfield who finished in 52.6 seconds.
Coach Mark Harris said it was the first time the four had run together in a relay, as only eight teams entered the event, which meant they went straight to a final rather than having to run heats.
"They just smashed the opposition," Harris said. "It's a demolition really, we're talking about 25 to 30 metres between them and second place."
He had taken them for about an hour and a half's training on the day before the race, showing them how to "professionally" shift the baton between them in a "blind change".
"They looked so great and smooth on the track, and the baton was moving so fast. It was just a special moment, really."
About 35 Wairarapa athletes from Athletics Masterton and Athletics Carterton attended the meet, among 1300 competitors.
Aside from the relay, Dhruv Raman made the final in the 100m, 200m and 400m events, while Edward Hewitt made the 400m final.
Mr Harris said it would be great to keep the four together to compete, and targeted the Wellington Championships in March as a possible event.
"That gets tough, though, as they start to come up against senior teams ... The main thing is to keep them in the sport, and keep them enjoying what they're doing. If they are enjoying it, they'll stick with it."
The Colgate Games is held annually for 7 to 14-year-olds, with North and South Island events held a week apart.
