Student athletes in action | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

It's as easy as running, jumping and throwing and hundreds of Rotorua primary school children got to do it yesterday.

More than 500 children aged between eight and 11 took part in the annual Rotorua Primary Schools Sports Association athletics day at the International Stadium.

All participants had previously won or been runners-up in their respective school's athletics days.

St Michael's, Western Heights, Malfroy, Ngongotaha, Rotorua, Lynmore, Westbrook, St Mary's, Aorangi, Otonga and Selwyn primary schools were all represented.

It was a colourful day with schools making camp under tents and cheering on their teammates as they ran, jumped or threw for glory. Plenty of parents and younger or older siblings were also on hand.

Yesterday's events were over 60m, 100m, 200m, long jump, high jump, shot put, vortex and relays.

The competition was fierce and according to Morag MacKechnie-Owen, a former New Zealand representative and local coach, there were some talented children about.

"It's quite refreshing, they just give it their all. It's good to see there's some good talent spread across the schools," the Lynmore Primary School teacher said.

The event has been running for a long time, so long organisers are not sure exactly when it started although they believe it was in the 1950s or 1960s.

This year's competition was organised by Kat Wills of Lynmore Primary School.

For more photos see Saturday's Daily Post