The much‑anticipated BestStart Athletics Day brought tamariki from across Palmerston North and Whanganui together for a high‑energy day filled with movement, laughter, and plenty of proud moments.
Our day started with a cheerful bus ride from BestStart Railway Road.
As we travelled, we picked up tamariki from other BestStart centres, building excitement with every stop. By the time we arrived at College Street Normal School, spirits were high and everyone was ready for action.
After a quick morning tea, the real adventure began. Jumping, Racing & Giving It Our All. Our first event was the Long Jump, where tamariki showed impressive leaps and determination. Next came the Running Races, with children sprinting their hearts out while friends and whānau cheered loudly from the sidelines. The classic egg‑and‑spoon race tested balance and patience, while the gumboot throw unleashed lots of creativity and enthusiastic throwing techniques!
The hurdles proved a fun challenge—especially with the wind blowing them over from time to time! Even with the occasional trip, our tamariki showed resilience and confidence, getting up and trying again. At the shot put station, we were lucky to have Mariana, our nutrition adviser. She is supporting us on our journey towards the Healthy Heart Award, and she demonstrated the correct shot‑put technique. For many children, this was their first time trying shot put, and they gave it everything they had.
The sack race had everyone giggling as tamariki hopped, stumbled, and cheered one another on. Our obstacle course wrapped up the events with climbing, crawling, balancing, and teamwork. Tamariki encouraged one another every step of the way, showing incredible perseverance and support. One of the day’s highlights was the parent race!
A big thank‑you to Ian from BestStart Railway Road, who gave it his all and displayed wonderful sportsmanship. Our tamariki absolutely loved cheering him on. At the end of the day, each tamariki was awarded a certificate of participation. The smiles said it all — what a proud moment for everyone! This event not only supported physical development but also built confidence and highlighted the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and giving things a go.
We are so proud of all our tamariki and cannot wait for next year’s Athletics Day!