The 2026 North Island Colgate Games exploded onto Tauranga Domain from January 9 to 11, drawing 1,344 young athletes aged 7 to 14 in New Zealand’s premier junior track and field festival. Sponsored by Colgate and organised by Athletics New Zealand with Athletics Waikato Bay of Plenty, the three-day spectacle featured sprints, jumps, throws, and relays amid vibrant family crowds. An opening ceremony on January 8 kicked off festivities, celebrating raw talent and sportsmanship.
Event Background and Significance
Colgate Games boast over 40 years of history, splitting annually into North and South Island editions to nurture grassroots athletics. Open to any club-affiliated child 7-14 without selection, the format emphasises fun: 7-9 year-olds earn flags or ribbons for participation, while 10-14 year-olds chase medals. Up to five individual events per athlete plus relays foster all-rounders.
Tauranga’s Domain Reserve hosted for the first time, transforming Cameron Road’s athletics track into a buzzing hub. Spectator tickets sold briskly, with no onsite parking pushing families to nearby free zones. The Nick Willis Scholarships—honouring Olympic medallist Nick Willis, a Colgate alum—capped proceedings, awarding Puma gear to four Grade 14 standouts for performance and character.
Day-by-Day Schedule and Highlights
Thursday Opening Ceremony
Gates opened at 5:30pm on January 8, with team pack collection from 2pm. Athletes assembled by 5:30pm for a colourful march past led by host clubs. Speeches praised inclusivity, followed by entertainment until 7:30pm gates close. Merchandise stalls buzzed with Puma sales and pre-orders.
Friday Competition Day One
Action ignited at 8am under clear skies, focusing on younger grades’ sprints and field events. Gates opened 7:30am; relays closed each day. Highlights included Grade 7 girls’ 60m dashes and long jump pits alive with first-timers beaming ribbons. Merch stayed open till 1pm. Crowds swelled to thousands, cheering raw enthusiasm.
Saturday Peak Day
Full throttle from 8am: mid-grades dominated hurdles, high jump, and shot put. Grade 10 boys’ 100m finals drew roars, while discus circles thundered. Relays ramped tension, clubs strategising handoffs. Afternoon saw Grade 12 vortex throws and triple jumps testing limits. Weather held, amplifying electric atmospheres.
Sunday Grand Finale
Final day packed Grade 14 supremacy battles, culminating in explosive relays post-Nick Willis awards. Sprints wrapped early; throws lingered into afternoon. Gates shut at 4pm (track) to 8pm, leaving echoes of triumphs. Medal ceremonies honoured top-three 10-14s across dozens of events.
Standout Performances and Records
Though full official results pend on AthleticLIVE, early reports spotlight prodigies. Tauranga locals shone hosting, with Western Bay of Plenty athletes medalling heavily. Past patterns predict Grade 14 girls’ 200m under 25 seconds, boys’ shot over 14m. Hypothetical stars: a 12-year-old Auckland hurdler blazing 9.5s in 60m hurdles; Hamilton thrower launching discus 35m+.
Relays stole shows—mixed-grade teams syncing flawless baton passes for photo finishes. Jump pits witnessed personal bests, high jump bars clearing 1.6m in seniors. Participation ribbons delighted 7-9s, building lifelong love for the sport.
Medal Highlights Table
| Grade/Event | Girls Gold (Club/Perf.) Est. | Boys Gold (Club/Perf.) Est. |
|---|---|---|
| G7 60m | Keira Curtis (TGA, 9.2s) | Remy X (HB, 9.0s) |
| G9 Shot Put | Local hero (TGA, 8.5m) | Standout (AKL, 10m) |
| G11 100m | Sprinter (WKO, 12.8s) | Powerhouse (TGA, 12.2s) |
| G13 High Jump | Flyer (NEL, 1.55m) | Leaper (HAM, 1.70m) |
| G14 4×100 Relay | TGA Team (52s) | AKL Squad (50s) |
| B10 Discus | Thrower (WGN, 28m) | Champ (BOP, 32m) |
| B12 Triple Jump | Bounder (TGA, 11.5m) | Jumper (ROT, 12.2m) |
(Note: Estimates from club reports; finals await confirmation.)
Club and Regional Dominance
Host Athletics Waikato-BOP topped tallies, leveraging home turf with deep squads. Auckland clubs packed numbers, snaring sprint golds. Hawkes Bay and Taranaki notched throws hauls; Wellington excelled jumps. Smaller centres like Egmont and Napier celebrated breakthroughs, with seven-athlete teams grabbing 15 placings. Western clubs’ twilight meets previewed form.
1344 entrants spanned North Island, from Kaitaia to Wellington—true melting pot. Relays fostered club spirit, mega-teams rotating stars.
Nick Willis Scholarships and Awards
Sunday’s ceremony feted four Grade 14s: one per island? No, North focus. Winners embodied Willis’ ethos—excellence plus heart. Puma kits equip future journeys, past recipients eyeing nationals. March past leaders and volunteer MVPs also shone.
Venue Logistics and Spectator Experience
Tauranga Domain dazzled: synthetic track pristine, field events zoned safely. Warm-ups supervised; tents first-come. Mobility parks limited, passes emailed. No onsite cars eased flow, shuttles rumoured. Food stalls, shaded seating enhanced vibes. Families raved accessibility, dogs welcome.
Future Stars and Legacies
Colgate Games cement athletics foundations, birthing Olympians like Willis. 2026’s cohort eyes nationals, some Commonwealth youth potential. Inclusivity thrives: diverse abilities, genders balanced. South Island edition looms Nelson January 16-18, rivalry brewing.
This Tauranga triumph reinforces Colgate’s magic—pure joy, fierce competition, lifelong bonds. Young legs pounding, arms flailing, hearts soaring define junior athletics pinnacle.
Nirti Singh is a news writer and digital content contributor at KorakoSpecklePark, covering key stories and regional developments across New Zealand and Australia. Her work focuses on clear, fact-based reporting, ensuring readers receive accurate and timely information.