Avatea take their ‘baby’ home

BCI Stadium was packed yesterday – cars lined the Nikao back roads and crowds camped out under umbrellas set up around the track to watch Rarotonga primary schools fight it out at Prince of Wales athletics day.

Host school Avatea swept the whole thing with 924 total points – 234 for the juniors, 345 for intermediates and 345 for seniors.

As one official from Avatea School put it: “Avatea has taken their baby (trophy) back home!”

In second place was Avarua School with 892 points and in third with 544 points was St Joseph’s.

(Then came Arorangi with 411, Takitumu with 237, Papaaroa with 182, Te uki Ou with 168, Nikao Maori with 158, Imanuela Akatemia with 111 and Rutaki with 106.)

At 8am sharp, the opening ceremony commenced – Nikao Maori, Arorangi, Rutaki, Papaaroa, Imanuela Akatemia, Te Uki Ou, Takitumu, Avarua, St Joseph’s and Avatea Schools took the field, waving their flags proudly.

Avatea Students sang the national anthem and the Papaaroa Brass Band led the students’ march.

Juniors, intermediates and seniors sprinted around the track, while in the middle of the field pre-schoolers did their dash. Later, older students competed at ball-throwing, discus, high jump and long jump.

It was a sweltering 32 degrees, but still students ran with energy and fans shouted their support with enthusiasm to match.