JUNIOR ATHLETICS
Winter running with the Owai Lightning Bolts⚡️- starts Wednesday 5 May
Over the winter Nick, Dion & Kate lead a squad of runners - training on Wednesday evenings (term-time) 6-7pm, and optionally competing at weekend events. Mostly the weekend races are around 2-3km long, a mixture of road and cross country, and usually a lot of fun!
Read our guide to the Athletics Auckland Grand Prix.
During our Wednesday sessions we aim to have fun, improve fitness for running and other sports, build friendships, and grow a junior Owai squad for those interested in competing.
How winter training sessions will work:
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Game / warm up
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Running drills focusing on form and coordination
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Running (hills, grass, sand dunes, trails, road, time trials, cross country specific, easy endurance, progression, fartlek etc.)
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Strength and conditioning
Our training is great for those who love running but also for those whose passion is in a different code but need to maintain or improve their fitness.
Summer athletics
Our junior summer athletics programme runs on Wednesday evenings 6-7pm
Halberg Squad (Under 7s)
The younger children’s activities follows Athletics New Zealand's Get Set Go program and includes running (up to 25 metres), long jump, and a range of other activities designed to develop body movement and coordination skills.
Snell Squad (7-9/10 year olds)
Activities for this age group include running (progressing from 50 metres, dependant on age) jumping (long and high jump, depending on age) and throwing (discus, shot put). The programme is based on the excellent Run, Jump Throw with training and resources provided by Athletics New Zealand.
Lydiard Squad (10/11s and over)
Older children's activities are based on the all weather track and include technical instruction suitable for the age group across all track and field activities. Coaches Julie Collard and Murray Cumberpatch, ex NZ sprint champion, guide this group.
We rely on parent volunteers to support our Halberg and Snell squads, please contact us if you'd like to get involved.
Junior competition squad
We have spent a few years in a rebuilding phase. Part of our strategic plan has been to fully embrace the Athletics New Zealand philosophy, guidelines and programmes. We want our young athletes to be moving lots and having fun with their mates. We also know there are some athletes who would like to experience external competition. To meet the needs of these athletes we launched our Competition Squad last season.
This is a group of young athletes who have self-selected (we do not run trials, the squad welcomes all) to try out representing Owai at a couple of competitions. We want children to have fun competing and to focus on learning, improving, personal bests and hanging out with their mates. Those joining the squad are going to need good family support. This is a new venture for the club and for 2020/21 we need parent support to help co-ordinate the squad and competition entries - please get in touch if you can help.
Events we participated in last year included:
Athletics Auckland Track & Field Championships
Athletics NZ Kids Medley Relays (Sir Graeme Douglas curtain raiser)
View the Athletics Auckland calendar
