Athletics honours even for Miro, Patai

Last week saw a hive of activity on the outer island of Mangaia as they took part in their cross country and athletics competitions on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

The cross country races were divided into small races for the primary students around the sports field, while the secondary students did it tougher with longer runs through the village of Oneroa in the afternoon.

Metuavaine Atariki won the junior girls race while Daniel Taokia nabbed the junior boys race. Tangianau Temata won the senior girls race and showed great promise considering she is just a year 10 student, while Alfred Ngametuatoe took out the senior boys competition.

Miro secured the overall points for the cross country competition after winning the primary cross country ahead of Patai House.

Tamanu house won the secondary cross country challenge ahead of Patai to add an element of respectability to the standings.

But in the end it wasn’t enough for them to finish higher than the bottom of the table as Miro won the overall competition narrowly ahead of Patai, Ano and Tamanu.

The following day saw preschool, primary and secondary school students reassemble for the athletics competition.

Preschoolers from three villages as well as primary school students from Ivirua and Mangaia School as well as the latter’s secondary school students.

As many as 200 students partook in the event and thoroughly enjoyed themselves by all accounts.

The secondary students had done their field events, including shot put, discus, javelin and long jump the day before, leaving their running events for the final day.

While everyone who took part were winners, there were prized points to be won. Patai House secured the primary and preschool competition, while Miro took out the secondary competition.

In the end, Patai’s victory in the primary and preschool division was enough to see them secure the overall honours ahead of Miro, Ano and Tamanu.

Emmahnessa Ruatoe (senior girls) and Aito Daniel (senior boys) secured Olympic T-shirts donated by Mangaia Olympian Patrick Tuara.