Daisy Ruthe has waited a whole year to write herself into the Zespri AIMS Games record books.

After watching her brother Sam win last year’s Year 8 boys’ cross country race, the pink-shoed Otumoetai Intermediate 11-year-old told herself ‘I can do that too’, and has been excited for her turn ever since. 

Her chance came on Sunday in the opening race of the 2023 AIMS Games cross country, with more than 600 young competitors from around New Zealand taking to the Waipuna Park course.

The rain held off but conditions were windy, adding an extra challenge for the runners completing the hilly 3km course, with crowds of spectators gathered to cheer on the young competitors.

Like her brother last year, Daisy got off to a fast start and built a steady lead, finishing more than 14secs ahead of Mount Maunganui Intermediate’s Sienna Rowe, with Mia Thomson from Paraparaumu Beach Intermediate third. 

Her time of 11mins 20.47secs was just enough to break the 11:21.89 record set last year by Leah Marais (Farm Cove Intermediate).

Brother Sam’s feats last year definitely provided her with inspiration.

"I was watching him race and I've been excited ever since then – I’ve just been waiting for this," she said.

The Ruthe siblings have serious pedigree - both dad Ben and mum Jess were top national runners, while grandma Rosemary won 800m gold at the 1970 Commonwealth Games, competing for Scotland.

And like her brother, Daisy didn’t train for the cross country - instead relying on natural fitness from playing an array of sports.

She says she didn’t have much of a strategy except to "just try my hardest and go for it". 

It kicks off a busy week, with  set to compete in football with her Otumoetai team too, and she said she is excited for what the rest of the competition brings.

Leo Green from Churchill Park Intermediate won the Year 7 boys’ race, meanwhile, clicking a time of 10:46, with Otumoetai’s Antonio Basile outsprinting local rival Ashton Mitford-Burgess (Mt Maunganui) for second.

Daisy Ruthe (Otumoetai Intermediate) on her way to victory in the Year 7 girls' cross country at the Zespri AIMS Games in Tauranga, and post-race with dad Ben. Photos by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media.

Leo says he has trained a lot leading up to the race, and is “really excited” to have won and come back with a bang after missing the Auckland Championships last week due to being sick. 

His first act upon crossing the finish line was to Facetime his grandparents - they’re “super involved” in his running but missed this competition due to being overseas.

Tayla Cox (Chisnallwood Intermediate) took out the Year 8 girls’ title with a time of 10:57, coming within a second of the 2019 course record set by Renee Carey (Tauranga Intermediate). Sylvia Allen (Gisborne) came in second, with Morgan Day from Saint Kentigern College taking third, followed by Olivia McDowell from Raumati Beach Intermediate in fourth place. 

Tayla has been training twice a week, one being her own training and the second being her weekly Saturday run for her cross country club.

Like Daisy, she’s has her sights set on gold since last year’s AIMS Games. 

“It feels really good to win since I came second last year. I’m also doing swimming this year so I’m excited for that too.” 

Jacob Williams (Hutt Intermediate) backed up his Year 7 boys’ victory last year with victory in the Year 8 boys race, his time of  10:04 good enough to head off with Fairfield Intermediate’s Jack Stirling, with William Moulder from St Peter’s Auckland third

Jacob says he feels really proud of his efforts after his hard-work and training has paid off, with him winning his AIMS Games division for the second year in a row. 

His strategy was to “attack on the hill” and that he did. Surprised cheers could be heard from the crowd as he broke clear from the other racers coming over the hill.

Jack, meanwhile,  was just happy to line up after missing last year’s Games due to being sick, and he was also delighted to see his twin brother Max finish in fifth, up seven places from last year’s race.

The twins say racing each-other is “really fun” as it gives an added layer of good competition. The boys train together and are both set to compete in football for the rest of the week. 

When asked their strategy, both boys say “just go for it”. 

The day finished with the schools relays, with Otumoetai Intermediate taking gold for the girls and St Peter’s College (Auckland), taking gold for the boys.

Results:

Year 7:
Girls: Daisy Ruthe (Otumoetai) 11mins 20.47secs 1 (new record), Sienna Rowe (Mt Maunganui) 11:34.89 2, Mia Thomson (Paraparaumu Beach) 11:35.44 3, Emily Cameron (Cambridge Middle School) 11:40.25 4, Mackenzie Hetherington (Otumoetai) 11:43.40 5.
Boys: Leo Green (Churchill Park) 10:47.94 1, Antonio Basile (Otumoetai)  10:53.25 2, Ashton Mitford-Burgess (Mt Maunganui) 10:53.38 3, Cooper Hogan (Tauranga) 10:57.48 4, Colin Johnston (Cambridge Middle School) 11:12.54 5.
Year 8:
Girls: Tayla Cox (Chisnallwood) 10:57.19 1, Sylvia Allen (Gisborne) 11:08.74 2, Morgan Day (Saint Kentigern College) 11:18.24 3, Olivia McDowell (Raumati Beach)  11:26.73 4, Kate Faitl (Otumoetai) 11:28.35 5.
Boys: Jacob Williams (Hutt) 10:04.12 1, Jack Stirling (Fairfield)  10:20.37 2, William Moulder (St Peter's Akl) 10:23.06 3, Nathan Theron (Te Puke) 10:26.13 4, Max Stirling (Fairfield) 10:28.06 5.

Relays:
Girls: Otumoetai 42:24.82 1, Mt Maunganui 43:33.70 2, Palmerston North 43:49.67 3, Bethlehem College 46:50.97 4, Northcross 48:27.15 5.
Boys: St Peter's College (Akl)  20:42.50 1 (new record), Sacred Heart College 21:52.61 2, Bucklands Beach 21:59.58 3, Cobham 22:00.47 4, Tauranga 22:02.68 5.