Top athletes get behind 2017 Colgate Games

Top athletes get behind 2017 Colgate Games

New Zealand Olympians including Eliza McCartney, Liam Malone, Tom Walsh and Alana Barber have joined forces to support the next generation of aspiring Kiwi athletes.

This January, thousands of children aged between 7 and 14 will round on Hastings and Invercargill to compete in the Colgate Games, New Zealand’s longest running junior athletics competition.

The Olympians have taken to social media with videos of support for kids practising their running, jumping, race-walking and throwing skills ahead of the events.
Rio Bronze medallist Eliza McCartney says the Colgate Games are an important stepping stone for junior athletes.

“The Colgate Games is such a great chance for young athletes to really work hard for their goals. It gives them a taste of what it’s like to be an athlete,” McCartney said.

Race walker Alana Barber was at Rio this year competing in her first Olympics and credits the Colgate Games for kicking off her athletics career and giving her a thirst for competition.
Barber gave children a glimpse of her own 2004 Colgate Games medal in a video where she encouraged everyone to train hard over the summer.

Colgate General Manager John Garside says the Colgate Games have a proud history of developing athletes who have gone on to compete all over the world.

“The event has been running since 1978 and has given tens of thousands of children their first real taste of competition. Generations of kids have crossed the finish line at the Colgate Games, which is a real kiwi institution,” John Garside said.

President of the New Zealand Children’s Athletics Association Brian Cockeram says the focus of the Colgate Games is good sportsmanship and participation.

“We encourage children at all levels to compete, but also recognise there is a lot of emerging talent in this age group. That’s why Olympic runner and former Colgate Games participant Nick Willis has put his name to our Colgate scholarships for high-performance.”

“Every year we offer eight Nick Willis Scholarships for children who show real promise,” Brian Cockeram said.

The three day-long competition will be held in Hastings from 6 - 8 January and in Invercargill from 13 – 15 January. Media are welcome to attend

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