EIGHT TEAMS CAME - but it should have been twelve !
We organised a Heats Meeting for the shorter running events on Friday, Oct. 30. Twelve schools had shown interest and been given programmes: maybe four had transport problems ? ** Please note that Junior means Classes 2 and 3, and Senior means Classes 5 and 6.
To help with the officiating, since it was a working day and the teams only brought a Manager each, eight Form One boys from St. Louis High School were asked to do the jobs at the Finish. Luckily the PE teacher at SLHS, Tekooki Teieka (Athlete Observer on the KAA Executive), also came and helped to organise the recording of results. In the event, sixteen races were completed without hassle, and recorded clearly so that the organiser could work out Finallists, allocate points, etc.
FINALS DAY.
A light shower overnight did not cause any problems, e.g. with the Standing Broad Jump on the grass of the field. The target was to start at 0830, but the eighth team did not arrive until twenty minutes later. So we did not have any marching, nor even a real Opening Ceremony. The Announcer (on our hired P.A. system) said "Welcome" and "Thanks", but the first race actually started before 0900 !
The track programme, since we had agreed that each athlete could compete only once plus their Relay, kept moving briskly and we had good cooperation from the schools' staff. There was some excellent racing. Simultaneously it was possible to complete the four competitions of Standing Broad Jump (SBJ), from a fixed board on the grass of the main field in front of the stadium seating. Again there were some impressive performances.
The final individual track event (Senior Boys 1000m) concluded the track programme. The interest of the audience was maintained by continuing and completing the "Vortex Throw", again in front of the main seating. The best male throw was again over 50m., and the best girls threw over 30m.
And so to the Relays. We had decided that the best way to include a number of teams, but not have to use the lane discipline of the proper track (partly because there are few lane markings at this stage of the year !), is to run the relays ACROSS the width of the field. The teams start in the middle and we set up two hurdles, 50m. apart, in front of and behind each team. The Juniors run from the middle of the field round the first hurdle and back to their team (50m.) and hand over to the next runner. There are eight in each team. The eighth runner has to go to the back hurdle then run past the team to finish at the front hurdle (75m.) We raced only four teams against each other, and each team was timed. They were ranked on their Heat times.
The Seniors have only four runners per team, but they do something similar, starting each time in the middle but running 100m. before handing over. The fourth runner has to run past their team to the front hurdle (125m.) Again we split the teams into two Heats of four and ranked them on their Heat times.
HITTING THE TARGET.
We share the stadium facility (track and field and courts) with Football and Volleyball. It had been amicably agreed with Football that we would try to finish by 1.00 pm. In fact, the last relay (Senior Boys Heat 2) finished about 1250 pm. Using cumulative scoring, the final result was ready in less than five minutes and we were ready to announce all the details by the target time.
THANKS TEBAO !
We were grateful to have a visit from the President of Kiribati NOC, Mr. Tebao Awerika. He had been invited to present prizes to the first three teams. Although very busy attending other functions, his timing was excellent, arriving just before we announced the results.
Announcing in reverse order usually builds the excitement and so this was done for each age-group division, starting at eighth place each time. The assembled teams were very fair, applauding each other and being pleased even if they did not win.
Thus we were able to get away to a welcome drink, ice-cream and lunch before 1.30 pm. Although hot, the weather was dry and not very windy. By keeping all the teams and supporters in the covered seating, no-one suffered from the heat.
Apart from one senior girl who slipped as she rounded the front hurdle in her Relay, there were no casualties !
All-in-all a very worthwhile exercise, and the athletes and staff seemed very grateful. We hope they all come again next year (unless they have proceeded to secondary school !) Thanks of course to Primary teachers, athletes, and all who came to help on the two days.
RESULTS SUMMARY. (First two in each.)
JG 80m. 1. Taremwa. 13.7 2. Erenua. 14.0 JB 80m. 1. Moriti. 12.3 2. Eria. 12.6
SG 100m. 1. Tautongo. 16.5 2= Atinta and Joy. 16.7 SB 100m. 1. Ioakimi. 14.2 2. Raratu. 14.8
JG 150m. 1. Beua. 27.6 2. Marie. 28.3 JB 150m. 1. Abeti. 25.0 2. Niito. 26.2
SG 300m. 1= Kanonga and Aresi. 58.5. 3. Merangia. 59.8 SB 300m. 1. Bwaan. 57.8 2. Iebobo. 58.8
JG 600m. 1. Tiina. 2-33.1 2. Taorite. 2-40.8 JB 600m. 1. Uro. 2-18.9 2. Moon. 2-19.0
SG 1000m. 1. Touatetaake. 4-15.6 2. Anateti. 4-20.0 SB 1000m. 1. Tamton. 3-49.6 2. Kaiuea. 4-01.5
JG Relay. 1. Tabontemwaneaba. 1-44.5. 2. Rurubao. 1-46.4 JB Relay. 1. Rurubao. 1-39.3 2. Aratokotoko. 1-43.6
SG Relay. 1. Rurubao. 1-34.7 2. Tebwanimwaneka. 1-35.1 SB Relay. 1. Tebwanimwaneka. 1-27.9 2. Tabontemwaneaba. 1-28.2
JG SBJ. 1. Teaitara. 2.05m. 2. Erenua. 1.95m. JB SBJ. 1. Tootiketa. 2.00m. 2. Ruata. 2.00m.
SG SBJ. 1= Teauama and Akineti. 2.05m. 3. Taiman. 2.00m. SB SBJ. 1. Moaiti. 2.55m. 2. Mwaio. 2.50m.
JGVortex. 1. Raete. 24.60m. 2. Reretaake. 19.50m. JB Vortex. 1. Kaitu. 38.40m. 2. Tionatan. 33.01m.
SG Vortex. 1. Kanosu. 32.95m. 2. Taraimwa. 31.75m. SB Vortex. 1. Ioakim. 50.90m. 2. Avia. 46.70m.
FINAL POINTS.
1. Taakenbairiki. (Won the JG and second in the others.) = 284 points.
2. Rurubao. (Won the JB, second in JG) = 264.
3. Tebwanimwaneka. (Won SG and SB) = 263.
4. Tabontemwaneaba. = 238.5
Was it significant that the first two teams are those situated nearest to the National stadium !
Last Modified on 14/11/2009 17:38