100 YEAR WAIT OVER
29 January 2008
This week Karori Amateur Athletic Club gets its first all-weather athletics track – after 100 years of members training on grass.
Two 25m lanes of Rekortan track have been being laid at the club’s headquarters at Ben Burn Park, thanks to a $20,000 grant from NZCT.
The club has never before had artificial track – as a result of which generations of young athletes have only ever trained on grass.
“The all-weather track will provide our athletes with just the type of track on which they compete at national championships and at events at Newtown Park,” says club president Michael Leggat. “And it will allow them to train on days when they otherwise could not train because the grass is too wet.”
The timing is particularly pleasing as the club celebrates its centenary this season. The club has over 200 members aged from six to 15 years. Its past members include multiple world mountain running champion Melissa Moon, New Zealand long jump champion Jessica Penney and world youth championships 400m gold medalist Andrew Underwood.
“We’re thrilled to be moving into our second century with this fantastic new facility for our members,” Mr Leggat says. “We can’t wait to see what a difference it makes for them.”
NZCT Wellington regional advisory committee chair Paul Elenio says the trust was only too happy to help.
“Several Wellington schools use Ben Burn Park for athletics and sports events so this track will be a great asset to the wider community as well as the athletics club,” says Paul.
“NZCT is the largest supporter of amateur sport in New Zealand, and we are always mindful of returning income generated from our gaming machines back to the local community,” he says.
“We wish the Karori Amateur Athletics Club every success with the new track.”
