Welcome to the Aotearoa Relays Festival 2024!

Saturday November 9th 2024
Tauranga Domain Athletics Track, Cameron Road, Tauranga

The Aotearoa Relays Festival is a unique blend of competitive spirit and developmental opportunities, featuring a wide variety of track and field events.

The event welcomes athletes from ages 7 through to international seniors,
ensuring inclusivity and development across all levels.

What to Expect:
Diverse Competitions: From sprints and hurdles to medley relays and field events, the festival caters to athletes across various disciplines. Notable for its record-setting performances, including a national record in the women’s Under 20 4x400m relay during its debut, the festival offers something for everyone.

Community Impact: The festival not only showcases Tauranga’s exceptional sporting facilities but also aims to establish the city as a top destination for elite sports events. It provides a platform for youth and senior athletes to compete, train, and enjoy the city’s natural beauty.

Event Highlights:
Enjoy a range of creative and exciting track and field events.
Participate in unique competitions not found elsewhere in the country.
Explore Tauranga’s beautiful natural attractions before or after the event.

We look forward to welcoming athletes, spectators, and volunteers to an exciting weekend of sports
and community spirit!

Event Program

Children’s Events:
2:00pm – Track: Paarlauf Relay (U14) Teams of four (boys and girls) can select legs of 100m, 200m, 300m, or 400m. Declare your distance prior to the race for positioning.
2:30pm – Infield: Egg & Spoon Relay - A fun shuttle relay open to all interested participants.
2:45pm – Track: Seated Start Relay - Teams of six athletes split in half, sitting 20m apart. One athlete starts & runs to team partner 20m away, who is sitting upright, legs out straight, arms folded, and facing away from the incoming runner.  The partner starts when the incoming runner taps them on the shoulder. 

3:00pm – Track: Shuttle Sprint Relays + Shuttle Rope Relay. Sprint relays on the track, ideally in bare feet or flats. 40m distance with baton exchanges. Rope Relay - same teams as shuttle relay. Each team has a 10m rope. They stand facing the other members of their team, 10m away. The first runner holds one end of the rope vertical, and runs to their partner 10m away. Exchange the end of the rope, and the next runner runs to their partner 10m away, where the first runner started. Continue until all athletes are back at their starting positions, and seated. 
3:15pm – Shot Circle: Throw Like Val. Shot put competition with distances marked for scoring. Under 10s use a soft shot, 11-13 year-olds use a 3kg shot, and 14 year-olds use a 4kg shot.
4:00pm – Track: U14 4x100m Relay. Relay event for boys and girls in the U14 age group.
4:15pm – Sandpit: Long Jump from Box. Jumping from a 10cm box, with points awarded based on distance past flags.

Senior/Adult Events:
2:00pm – Sandpit: Pole Vault for Distance – Open Grade. Open to all grades in pole vaulting for distance.
2:00pm – Track: Paarlauf Relay – Seniors & Over 14s. Teams of two with flexible leg distances and changeover points.

2:30pm – Track: 2x100m Hurdles – Open Women, U18 Men & Women. Hurdles relay.
2:30pm – Track: 2x110m Hurdles – Open Men Hurdles relay.
2:45pm – HJ Fan: High Jump from 10cm Box – All Grades 12 & Over. High jump event with a 10cm box, open to all grades from 12 years and over.
3:00pm – Track: 4x100m Relay – U16 Boys & Girls, U18 Boys & Girls, U20 Boys & Girls.
3:30pm – Track: Distance Medley Relay – 1200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m – Open & U20. Medley relay with one runner completing each distance.
3:45pm – Track: Sprint Medley Relay – 200m, 100m, 100m – U16 Girls & Boys. Medley relay with one runner completing each distance.
4:00pm – Track: Open 4x100m Relay. Traditional 4x100m relay for open age groups.
4:10pm – Track: “Devil Take the Hindmost.” A distance race where the last runner drops out every 200m if more than ten participants are present. With fewer than ten starters, two runners drop out every 200m after the first 400m.

Entries open soon, please contact Kerry Hill on khill92@hotmail.com or 021 588 174