Eight students from Awhina took part in the annual Athletes with a Disability Athletic Sports at Newtown Park Stadium recently. Teacher Anne Beckett describes the action.

The day proved lovely and sunny, though a bit chilly out of the sun, and each student represented Upper Hutt College with great pride and determination, trying their very best and encouraging each other. The team had fun reconnecting with old classmates from previous schools.

Our day began with a group warmup in front of the stadium before the popular 100 and 50 metre sprint events on the all weather track, always a big buzz for the students, as they are marshalled behind the starting line.

Each competitor was able to enter three events and all our students participated in the 50 metres dash and 100 metre sprints.

All the runners were timed in their heats so no finals were run on the day.

Instead, those runners who achieved the fastest times in the heats, won qualification through to the finals which were included in the College Sport Regional Athletics Competition which was held at Newtown Park Stadium on Tuesday 20th September.

All of our students ran very well and two were fast enough to qualify for the finals.

They were Maria Andrews who qualified 6th fastest in the 100m and Cassius Jane who qualified 3rd fastest in the 100m and 6th fastest in the 200m.

Cassius also ran the fastest time for the 50 metre dash and Maria 3rd fastest in the girls’ race but as this was a non-championship distance, there was no final for this event.

Congratulations to our two stars who attended the Regional event with their parents.

In the Mixed Vortex, another non competitive field event, our students threw very well with Daniel Gaskin throwing the greatest distance and Otaumaha Aramoana-Edwards the 6th best on the day.

It was lovely to have our band of faithful parents and grandparents who were able to make the trip into Newtown Park on the day to cheer and encourage our students in their endeavours. 

As usual, our students represented Awhina and UHC with a positive attitude and showed great team spirit.