Tomorrow's champs put talent on show | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Future Commonwealth Games athletes featuring a strong Rotorua contingent will compete at the Waikato Athletics Championships.

A 28-strong team from Lake City Athletics Club will be among the 1500 junior athletes competing at Porritt Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday. A look at the record books show current Commonwealth Games heptathlete Sarah Cowley was making her mark in athletics when she was a youngster.

She still has a trophy from Rotorua's Lake City Athletic Club which she won as a 6-year-old when she took her first athletic steps, like many children, during regular summer twilight meetings.

Coach Mike Corboys said the latest crop of juniors could produce some of New Zealand's future stars.

"There are some talented kids in the team. Sarah came through the same ranks so it just goes to show this system can produce international athletes."

Corboys said the Hamilton meet gave the athletes aged between 7 and 14 years excellent experience.

"We tell them the important thing is personal bests and it you get a medal that's a bonus."

The Waikato Champs are also the last chance for some older competitors to be selected for the Interprovincial team.

Lake City has seven athletes on the short list for the Waikato/BOP team that will race at Easter in Auckland for the thee days at Ericsson Stadium.

Those vying for places are Anna Leathers, Sarah Podmore, Tania Bennett, Ngatai Bennett, Luis Estevs, Katie Sparrow, Nic Vickers and Claudia Hyde.

The final team will be announced next month.