Huge medal haul from Colgate athletes

Fairfield Althetic Club's Deigna Khamal

Hamilton athletes brought home a total of 29 medals from the Colgate Games last week.

The 2015 Colgate Games, known as New Zealand's National Junior Athletics Championship, drew more than 8700 entries from around the country for a host of track and field events.

Hamilton's Fairfield Athletic Club took home the majority of medals between their 23 athletes, winning 12 gold, six silver, and 10 bronze. Hamilton City Hawks Athletics two away one gold medal.

Fairfield Althetic Club's Deigna Khamal took home the ultimate prize - the Nick Willis Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to athletes who have outstanding performances throughout the Colgate Games events in January, and gives recipients funds to put towards sports gear, coaching, travel, and other resources to help them with their athletics goals.

Deigna place third in the Girls 100m Dash Grade 14 with 12.83 seconds, second in the 200m Dash, first in the 400m Dash with 59.06 seconds, and fourth in the Girls Shot Put Grade 14 throwing 10.15m.

"The Colgate Games gives you the opportunity to meet new people and go to new places," said Deigna. "The scholarship funds will help me pay for accommodation when travelling. I'm competing in the Nationals in March so this will certainly help with that."

Colgate NZ general manager John Garside said the games have been bringing children and their parents together for years.

"It's wonderful to be able to work with the NZ Children's Athletic Association and give thousands of young aspiring athletes the opportunity to showcase their talents."

The 2015 Colgate Games saw more than 2000 athletes from 108 athletics clubs participate in the two events in Wellington and Dunedin.