Runners on track to take on best students | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Rotorua Girls' High School's record-breaking relay team will spearhead the school's contingent at the New Zealand College Games which open in Hamilton tomorrow.

The promising junior team of Carly Lanham, Mwarawa Kaiaroi, Caroline Podmore and Amy Adler will line up to contest the glamour event on the track - the 4x100m relay heats at Porrit Stadium on Saturday. Going on previous results, including a record-breaking performance at the Bay of Plenty Mid Island championships earlier this year - they are on track to make the final on Sunday.

In addition, the four talented youngsters will each compete in individual track and field events over the weekend including 100m, 200m, hurdles, discuss and shotput.

The talented team lead a strong contingent of 21 Rotorua Girls' High students who will compete in five of the Games 20 sports.

Other athletes include Monique Avery (mountainbiking and duathlon), Charlotte Pearson (duathlon), Renee Hannah (waterskiing), Penny Paignton and Nicole Loper (swimming).

The greater Rotorua area will also be represented by athletes from John Paul College, Rangitahi College, Rotorua Boys' High School, Rotorua Lakes High School, Tauhara College, Te Puke High School, Trident High School, Western Heights High School and Whakatane High School.

The College Games, which this year also double as the National Secondary School Championships for athletics, bowls and indoor rowing, are held every four years to co-incide with the Olympic Games.

The Games officially open tomorrow with a special ceremony attended by Patron of the NZ College Games Sir Murray Halberg, new Hamilton mayor Michael Redman, and Chairman of the NZCG Charitable Trust Gary Sutcliffe.

The NZCG Baton will be brought into the arena by Olympians Beatrice Faumuina and Nathan Richmond.

The New Zealand College Games take place in Hamilton from Friday to Tuesday.