All eyes on Olympians at Tereora athletics

Excitement is growing among Tereora College students as they prepare for their annual inter-house athletics competition on September 12.

Last year’s event saw a number of new records set including three new track and field records set by Olympian and current Tereora College student Patricia Taea.

Taea will be joined on the track by fellow London Olympian Patrick Tuara and with the horde of talented athletes at the national college – more new records are expected to be set.

Despite the number of new records set last year, there are a number of long standing records yet to be broken including the senior boys triple jump record of 14 meters set by current Cook Islands High Commissioner Tiki Matapo in 1960.

Taea holds the 100m and 200m senior girls record of 12.59s and 26.94s respectively and after her personal best performance in London, the youngster from Titikaveka is sure to make improvements on the school record times.

She is also the current senior girls champion while Jennifer Akavi holds the intermediate girls champion title and Tupapa all round sports star Teiti Tupuna currently owns the junior girls champion title after their brilliant performances on the track and field last year.

Ruiruia David of house three is the senior boys current athletics champion while Andrew Purua of Arorangi is the intermediate boys champion and Gordon Teatai the junior champion.

All these champions are still attending school and are sure to be competitive come September 12 to hold on to their titles.

Athletics coach Teaea Parima has also taken a number of athletes under his wings to train them up ahead of the college athletics as well as for future events.

In 2010 – Maungaroa house were crowed the winning house and last year it was house three ‘Te Manga’ that won on the day and overall inter house competition for the year.

While all eyes will no doubt be on the two Olympians and the impressively talented students from the college – there are a number of fun events running on the day in the spirit of participation including a banner competition, backwards 50m dash and the ever popular tug-o-war rope pulling competition.

Parents and the public at large are invited and encouraged to get along to the BCI Stadium on September 12 for the exciting Tereora College inter-house athletics competition starting at 8.30am.