900 athletes gather at Teufaiva [1]
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - 18:00. Updated on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 12:20.
Togna's 86th Inter-Collegiate Sports Athletic competition began at the Teufaiva Outdoor Stadium, Nuku'alofa this morning, April 15.
The three-days event attracted more than 900 athletes from 21 High Schools in Tongatapu, Vava'u, Ha'apai and 'Eua.
Competition kicked off at 9:30am this morning with the 1,500m for the Open, Intermediate and Senior grade in both boys and girls category, followed by the 100m Hurdles, Long Jump, High Jump and shotput.
In the afternoon was the 400 m run for all grades in both boys and girls before the 200m run concluded the first day of the competition.
Since 2007 the annual Inter-collegiate Sports Athletic competition which was initially only for Tongatapu high schools became a national event with the participation of high school athletes from 'Eua, Ha'apai, Vava'u, Niuafo'ou and Niuatoputapu. This year though athletes from Niuafo'ou and Niuatoputapu High Schools could not participate because of a disrupted inter-islands ferry service.
Tonga High School was the champion in last year's 85th Inter College Sports competition, winning a total of 50 medals.
The guest of honour at the opening ceremony this morning was HRH Princess Latufuipeka Tuku'aho.