Whakatāne High School’s Lara Barton and David Kemp will be trying not to let the large spectator numbers intimidate them as they compete in the New Zealand Secondary School Track and Field Championships this weekend.

The Hastings event, which opens today and runs till Sunday, has attracted 1168 athletes from 259 schools around New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands. Including team officials, event officials and family supporters, it is expected to attract as many as 4000 people to Hastings.

Lara is competing in the junior girls high jump, while David is competing in some running events.

“I am a bit nervous, because there’s a lot of athletes that I have already competed against, and I know their strengths,” David said. “I have been playing cricket a lot lately, so during the past few weeks I have tried to get as many sessions in as possible.

“My goal is always just to improve on my personal best. If I am faster than the previous race, I am winning.”

This will be David’s first time at the event, and he is looking forward to testing himself.

“Last year, I was still in intermediate, and as new immigrants, I didn’t compete last year.”

He started running at six years old in South Africa where athletics is a popular and very competitive sport.

Lara, who medalled in her final year at the Colgate Games is excited to compete at her first New Zealand Secondary School Track and Field Championships.  

“I’m looking forward to it as it’s my first comp of the season … I’ve been warming up by having weekly trainings and with general fitness from other sports.”

The 15-year-old is hoping to upset some of the athletes from bigger schools.

“My goals are to place in the top five and hopefully match or better my personal best.”

High jump is a favourite event.

“I thoroughly enjoy it because there is no limit to how high you can push yourself to go, proving to be an endless challenge and always fun for me.”