Otago Polytechnic sports institute students have been in the thick of it, upskilling to become officials for the national athletics championships getting under way at the Caledonian today.
About 35 second-year students have been trained as officials, and a further 20 first-year students are helping as volunteers.
It will prove to be mutually beneficial, with students obtaining credits towards their studies and the national event needing as many helpers as it can get.
"It’s been wonderful, because it’s provided an opportunity for them to be able to upskill, to be actually immersed in the field with a major event and get an insight into the broader stuff that goes on," organising committee head Raylene Bates said.
"It’s been a bit of a collaboration across the board ... to help some of the students be able to actually give their time and get something out of it as far as the credits [go], but also it’s helped us hugely with the amount of volunteers and support we’ve needed."
Several secondary school students were also involved in various areas to earn NCEA credits.
It is the first time since 2016 that Dunedin has hosted the national event, and shapes as a bumper four days.
"We’ve got more entries than we expected — all the big names are here.
"It’s actually really exciting."
Those big names included Hamish Kerr, Zoe Hobbs, Tom Walsh, Jacko Gill, Maddi Wesche, and Dunedin Paralympic champion Anna Grimaldi, and being able to see them compete at home was rare.
"Sometimes the top athletes don’t compete, but this year they are, which is really exciting because it means that our youngsters, our community, can get up amongst and watch these idols and these roles models that they’ve been seeing," Bates said.
"I think it’s a huge opportunity.
"We’ve got some school children coming in Thursday and Friday morning, and for them to be up and close with some of the action will be great.
"We just really want the community to now back it as well."
Otago has 72 athletes competing — "the biggest team we’ve ever had" — and while the inclusion of the under-16 grade helped boost numbers, Otago athletes still had to make their mark to get there.
"The Otago athletes have really risen to the occasion and they’ve met the qualifying standards.
"What better opportunity than your home ground?"
The national championships begin today, with mainly under-16, under-18 and under-20 age group grades across the track and in the field.
There is also the senior men’s 800m, the senior men’s and women’s 5000m and the para men’s and women’s 100m.
The championships run until Sunday.
