Sprinter Gian Clark (13), of Dunedin North Intermediate, practises his relay skills at a Special Olympics athletics training session at the Caledonian Ground yesterday. Others pictured (from left) are Haidee McRae (St Peters, Gore), Ben Owen (Kings, obscured), Meghan McNeill (Sara Cohen), Summer van Loenhout (coach, obscured) and Thomas Cowie. Photo by Linda robertson.

The Otago Special Olympics athletics squad has grown like Topsy with 25 athletes at yesterday's training session at the Caledonian Ground.

When the group was started by Sport Otago Sports Coach co-ordinator Mike Waddell in 2006, it had only three athletes.

Nine new coaches have qualified to assist the expanding squad that trains each week at the Caledonian Ground.

One of these is Hone Duff, a Mount Cargill Trust team leader, who used to compete in the sprints and the throws for the Eastern Districts Athletics Club.

"I'm excited about it," Duff said.

"I like to see the athletes trying hard and having fun."

One of the athletes in his group yesterday was Gian Clark (13) from Dunedin North Intermediate, who enjoys competing in the sprints and the relays.

Another was Haidee McRae (13), from St Peters College in Gore, who travels to Dunedin for the training session each week.

The new coaches attended a coaching course conducted by Sport Otago athletics co-ordinator Catherine O'Sullivan and Waddell last month.

O'Sullivan and Waddell are stepping back but will still be involved in a supervisory role as the new coaches take control.

The quality and the numbers have improved and several of the Special Olympic athletes now compete regularly in interclub athletics in New Zealand.

The most successful in Otago has been Matthew Aitken (Otago Boys) who won three gold medals in AWD events at the New Zealand secondary schools championships in Hamilton last December.

He has qualified for the Special Olympics national Games in Palmerston North and the New Zealand secondary schools championships in Timaru in December.

Sprinter Ricky White (Sara Cohen) emerged as a top prospect early this year when he won titles at the Otago secondary school championships. White (18) came 12th in his age group in the Moro half-marathon last month in 1hr 32min. He has now been promoted to Waddell's elite squad.

The Otago Special Olympic championships will be held at the Caledonian Ground next month.

The new Lower South Island co-ordinator for Special Olympics is Jan Aitken.

The group initially trained for the Independence Games each year, but they will now be incorporated into Special Olympics.


• Otago Special Olympics - New coaches

Graeme Aitken, Hone Duff, Adrian Caffell, Summer van Loenhout, Matt McDowell, Carlton Tewhaiti-Henry, Louise Harvey, Jaimee Caffell, Matt Aitken