Friday, 25 August 2023

Junior O’Mathalon combines athletics, mathematics

    By Amasio Jutel
    1. News
    2. Dunedin

    The Edgar Centre was brimming with energy and brain cells as Otago pupils pushed their minds and bodies to the limit yesterday.

    The 2023 Junior O’Mathalon, which merges the world of mathematics and athletics, began at noon and continued to about 9pm.

    Teams competed to answer as many challenging mathematical questions as possible within 30 minutes, while racing in a circuit between team-mates and markers.

    A group of runners speeds through the year 6 competition.
    A group of runners speeds through the year 6 competition.
    Otago Mathematics Association secretary Daniel Kelly estimated each team would undertake 2.2km of running.

    "I walked out there before, some of the kids wanted to have a little practice run."

    The decision to divide the running between the team’s members, or whether one daring pupil would undertake the challenge on their own, was left up to each team.

    Between the junior and senior competitions, more than 1000 pupils and 100 teachers were involved from throughout Otago.

    "The excitement is palpable here. I think it’s the mixture of having to solve maths problems and do the running," Mr Kelly said.

    Hudson Ryder, 11, of Fairfield School, hands an answer to marker Misty Smith.
    Hudson Ryder, 11, of Fairfield School, hands an answer to marker Misty Smith.
    The Junior O’Mathalon featured six events, accommodating pupils from years 5 to 10.

    Each event consisted of 30-35 teams, with three or four pupils in each team.

    The senior competition was held at Logan Park High School on August 17.

     

    Winners of the year 6 section of the O’Mathalon Competition held at the Edgar Centre, Dunedin,...
    Winners of the year 6 section of the O’Mathalon Competition held at the Edgar Centre, Dunedin, are (from left) Edgar Weber, 11, Kai Foote, 11, Josie Tinning, 11, and Thomas Lorenz, 10, of Arthur Street School. PHOTOS: LINDA ROBERTSON
    Results

    Year 5: Māori Hill A, 1; George Street Normal School A, 2; East Taieri B, 3.

    Year 6: Arthur Street, 1; George Street Normal School A, 2; Columba College, 3.

    Year 7: Balmacewen A, 1; Columba College B, 2; John McGlashan A, 3.

    Year 8: Balmacewen B, 1; Balmacewen A, 2; Balmacewen D, 3.

    Year 9: Otago Boys A, 1; Kings A, 2; Logan Park B, 3.

    Year 10: Logan Park C, 1; John McGlashan A, 2; Kings C, 3.

    Senior: Logan Park A, 1; Kings A, 1; Kings B, 1.

     

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