Kenzie Pivott was up early on Sunday for her birthday.
But there was another reason for the Te Awamutu 12-year-old to be ready for a big day – it was starting with a run around Hamilton Airport.
Kenzie was one of more than 300 people who took advantage of the chance to cover a 5km course taking in the airport runway.
Maintenance work at the airport necessitated bringing the event 30 minutes forward this year – and as a result the sun was still to come up when Cambridge’s Jake Wilkinson came home in a very quick 15m 21s. His girlfriend Jen Ayson from Ngaruawahia came home as the first woman runner soon after.
The fourth annual runway event organised by Rotary helped raise funds for GoBabyGo, which provides electric cars for children with mobility problems who are too young for an electric wheelchair.
Best part of the day? For Te Awamutu Intermediate’s Kenzie it was running in the dark with the bright runway lights and everyone singing happy birthday.
Runners kept in the dark
Venus was the brightest object in the sky and the Southern Cross was high up as more than 300 people took the opportunity to run the Hamilton Airport runway on Sunday.
Maintenance work at the airport necessitated bringing the event 30 minutes forward this year – and as a result the sun was still to come up when Jake Wilkinson came home in a very quick 15 minutes 21s.
Denise Hamilton from Leamington was the Flying Nun at Sunday’s runway event – she was inspired to dress up after watching airport firefighter Kelly Remkes complete the course in full kit last year.
Wilkinson was a clear winner, but in a Forrest Gump moment, continued running, and running. He explained later than his watch had told him he had not completed 5km – so there was more to be done when he reached the finish line.
First woman home was Jen Ayson from Ngaruawahia – and Wilkinson was quick to congratulate her.
“We’re dating,” Ayson revealed.
From left to right, Mackenzie Harris, Ryan & Linda McBride. Kenzie Pivott, Ange, Dwight & Eva Pivott.
Wilkinson, 32, who runs up to 70km a week, moved to Cambridge from Waikino recently and works at Glasslines in Peake Rd. He won the event from Whatawhata’s Hayden Ballantyne and Travis Sperry from Hamilton.
The fourth annual runway event organised by Rotary helped raise funds for GoBabyGo, which provides electric cars for children with mobility problems who are too young for an electric wheelchair.
Denise Hamilton from Leamington was the Flying Nun at Sunday’s runway event – she was inspired to dress up after watching airport firefighter Kelly Remkes complete the course in full kit last year.
From left to right, Mackenzie Harris, Ryan & Linda McBride. Kenzie Pivott, Ange, Dwight & Eva Pivott.
Alison Brown and Diane Whitehead (right) were registering the 39 volunteers for the runway event. They are members of Fairfield Rotary.
