Zespri AIMS Games athletes made a record-breaking run at Waipuna Park in Tauranga’s Welcome Bay on Sunday, with five of the six best times equalled or bettered.

That includes Newlands Intermediate School rocket Johnson Li, who equalled the Year 8 boys’ course record set in 2022 by Kiwi running sensation Sam Ruthe.

Li’s 10:00.67 time was 15s faster than Havelock North’s Lachie Scott (10:15.75), who was just ahead of Glen Eden’s Jacob Heathorn, another 10s back.

Sam Ruthe was at the event and ran as a support person for adapted sports runner Xzavien Downing – “He took off, I was struggling to keep up!” – and was then swamped by AIMS attendees seeking selfies with the youngest person in the world to run a sub-four-minute mile.

Ruthe said so many great memories would have been made at Waipuna Park on Sunday.

“I feel like it’s just such a cool event.”

Sam Ruthe was at the event and ran as a support person for adapted sports runner Xzavien Downing. Photo / Jamie Troughton, Dscribe Media

When told Johnson Li had equalled his Year 8 boys’ record from 2022, Ruthe was delighted: “That’s so cool.”

Lucie Thomson, from Paraparaumu Beach School, secured back-to-back golds, following last year’s Year 7 girls’ win by equalling the race record in the Year 8 girls’ event this year, clocking 10:56.76.

She was more than 14s ahead of Charlotte Bell (Southwell School) who clocked 11:10.85, just edging Belmont Intermediate’s Bonnie Robinson who finished in 11:11.96.

Lucie Thomson from Paraparaumu Beach School secured back-to-back golds. Photo / Zach Quin

Lucie’s Year 7 record from last year was smashed this year by Scarlett Nelson (Te Kamo Intermediate), who led from the start to take a big win in the Year 7 girls’ race, crossing the line in 10m 46.32s, a new record by nearly 15s.

Scarlett didn’t let a head cold stop her, crossing the line with her face contorted, saying: “I love this”.

“I feel amazing.”

Scarlett went into the race believing she could win and thought it was probably the fastest she had ever run. The race-day clock would later show her pace was 3:35 minutes per kilometre over the 3km course.

Scarlett Nelson from Te Kamo Intermediate. Photo / Jamie Troughton, Dscribe Media

And she’s not done yet, either. She will be playing Rip Rugby for her school at Aims this week.

Scarlett finished ahead of Christchurch runner Louise Harrington (Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate), who clocked 11:10.93secs, and Katie Trollope (Cambridge Middle) just under 8s back in third.

Local Tauranga runner Cruz Champness (Aquinas College) was equally dominant in the Year 7 boys’ race, crossing in 10.35.03secs. Harley Nicholas (Ōtūmoetai Intermediate) was second in 10:48.64 – 12secs ahead of Lindisfarne College runner Flynn Dobson.

Local Tauranga runner Cruz Champness from Aquinas College.

Spectators lined the hillside, where many runners slowed to a lung-busting walk, as parents and coaches yelled “Go, Go, Go”.

On the starting line of the Year 8 girls’ race, in the chill of a grey Tauranga spring day, footwear ranged from spikes to bare feet. French plaits dominated the field, and a parent yelled “Get it, ladies”.

There were also fastest times recorded in the adapted sports athlete races, with Robert Hunt (Scots College) finishing in 2:43.95, and Te Puke Intermediate’s Mercedes Whittaker clocking 3:18.64 in the girls’ race.

AIMS cross country attracted more competitors than ever before – 768 athletes across four age groups and adapted sports athletes.

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale, watching at Waipuna Park on Sunday, said he loved seeing so many children giving sport a go and enjoying themselves.

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale watching on at Waipuna Park on Sunday.

He didn’t start rowing, the sport in which he would eventually be the best in the world, until he was older, but said at intermediate age he participated in everything he could.

He claimed he wasn’t particularly good at any of the sports he tried when he attended Tauranga Intermediate, but he gave everything a go – from canoe polo to orienteering.

“I just had such a great time, even though I wasn’t winning.”

- Content supplied by AIMS Games Media