Celebrating Effort and Achievement

(Updated July 2024)

The Junior Track and Field section love to celebrate the efforts and achievements of our athletes. 

Club Night Points (7-14 year olds)

The efforts and achievements of our 7-14 year olds is done in a number of ways:

·              Awarding PB (Personal Best) cards to athletes whenever a club night PB is achieved

·              ‘Athlete of the Week’ cards awarded to one athlete in each grade for effort, perseverance, sportsmanship or achievement of a goal. (This comes with a free item from the tuck shop!)

·              Awarding of club night points.  For each event in each grade:

o      6 points are awarded for 1^st place

o      5 points for 2^nd place

o      4 points for 3^rd place

o      3 points for 4^th place

o      2 points for 5^th place

o      1 point for all other athletes who participated

At the end of the season, club night points earned are tallied and awards are given to athletes who achieved the highest number of points in their grade across all field events, all track events and for track + field combined. Awards are also given to athletes who achieved the highest number of points across the entire section.  The most improved athlete in each grade and the athlete who best demonstrated good sportsmanship throughout the season are also acknowledged at the end-of-season prizegiving.

Club Championship (5-14 year olds)

Pakuranga Athletic Club Champs are held across a series of club afternoons/evenings in March.  All registered athletes aged 5 – 14 years are able to participate.

Athletes compete in their grade groups as usual, but, because club records can be broken, events are run under stricter conditions than during club nights:

·              Athletes must have attended a minimum of three club nights as a registered Pakuranga athlete in the same season to be eligible for place medals or to break club records.

·              Athletes must be wearing correct club uniform to be eligible for place medals or to break club records.  This includes the club t-shirt/singlet for all, and plain black or navy shorts for 7-14 year olds.

·              Athletes must compete in their correct age group.

·              Crouch starts must be used by all athletes aged 10 years + for track events up to and including 400m.  All athletes aged 12 years + must use starting blocks for these events regardless of whether they wear spikes or not.

·              Events must be run as close as possible to World Athletics standard.  For example, this means that each throw must be measured; no marker pegs can be used.  Similarly, 400m races for 10-14 year olds must be run in lanes.

·              All records broken need to be signed off by a graded official for that event

Ribbons (‘5s and 6s’) and medals (7-14s) are awarded to place-getters in all events.  As far as practical, these are presented immediately after the event.

Tiny Tots (2 - 4 year olds)

The focus of Tiny Tots is developing both physical and social skills - and having fun.  We don't have awards for being the best; instead we celebrate team work, perseverance and effort - through ribbons at fun events and treats at the end of each club night fun run.