They may be pint-sized but they gave it their all.
About 120 athletes ranging from pre-schoolers to pre-teens took to the field for the Goldfields Primary School Kids Duathlon in Cromwell yesterday.
The annual event is a fundraiser organised by the Goldfields Friends of the School committee.
The afternoon kicked off with the pre-schoolers on their bikes in a race which had more cuteness factor than speed.
Despite being first-time competitors on the multisport scene, there were more grins and cheers than tears — once they realised the loud hooter meant the race had started.
Racing continued with the older categories — and much longer distances than the initial 50m dash.
The oldest competitors, the 11-13-year-olds took part in a 2km run and 3km bike ride, with parents, friends and supporters lining the final stretch to the finish.
For 7-year-olds Isla Reid and Maya Dennis, the event was "really fun".
It was Isla’s first time taking part in the duathlon and she was happy with how she went.
"I think I did pretty good," she said.
Her favourite part of the day was the racing, she said.
The friends took turns beating each other, with Maya faster in the running and Isla faster in the biking.
"It was really fun because, like, you get there and it’s not just about winning — it’s about having fun as well," Maya said.
"I did like cheering other people on to make them win. I like cheering people on because then it’s like giving them confidence and some people might be nervous and then other people are taking over."
Despite a poor weather report earlier in the week and having to shift the event to the afternoon to accommodate the Rugby World Cup final, the event went really well, Mrs Sinclair said.
"It’s been fabulous. The weather gods have smiled on us today and it’s been a fantastic sunny warm day and I think everyone has had a lot of fun."
