Katene stops to help rival in Coast to Coast
Timaru's James Katene did not expect to be labelled
'magic' after completing the first of two days on the Coast to
Coast.
The 18-year-old Aoraki
Polytechnic student was running over the arduous Goat Pass when he
came
across another competitor in some distress.
Retired 71-year-old Sumner builder
Dave Kennedy was out of food and water, so Katene offered some of
his and then opted to run with Kennedy rather than just go on ahead
of him, costing himself around an hour and half in time.
Kennedy said he ran short of food and drink and Katene kindly
gave me some of his.
"That young fellow stayed with me the rest of the way - he was
absolutely magic."
Kennedy admitted it slowed his time down but it could have been
much worse had it not been for the "youngster" who helped him
out.
Katene said he came across Kennedy at Dudley's Knob.
"He looked like he was in a bit of trouble so I just made up my
mind of what I thought was right.
"Also he needed water and food so I gave him a square meal then
completed the run with him."
The sport and fitness student said he did have some quick
explaining to do when he arrived in transition with team-mate
Quinton Graham waiting for him.
Graham said he knew something was up but thought Katene may have
suffered an injury.
"He was an hour and a half behind his own predicted time, so I
hoped he was okay."
The pair finally finished 16th in the open men category and 83rd
overall, in 18 hours, 34 minutes, but without the stop the result
could have been in the low 60s.
Katene said it didn't really worry him as the main thing was to
finish.
"I was just hoping to encourage people my age to have a go at
it, if you put your mind to it and do the Coast to Coast you can do
anything."
The hardest part was nerves and lack of sleep but once he got
going he was fine, he said.
Graham said his worst part was wondering where Katene was as the
time ticked by.
Katene intends to have another go next year on his own while
Graham has marked 2015 as his next one, hopefully with his father
Kelvin. Meanwhile, Graham hopes to use his outdoor pursuits
qualification to teach kayaking in Scotland.
STU PIDDINGTON - © Fairfax
NZ News