WAKA AMA - Gold for Northland - teen team storm waka ama champs

Eleanor Woods | 14th August 2008

Olympic medals might be few and far between so far - but six waka ama queens have just returned to Northland weighed down with gold and silver.

The six-strong U16 women's team, Te Houtaewa, swept up one gold and two silver medals at the finals of the World Outrigger Canoe Sprint Championships in Sacramento, California, on Saturday. They arrived home in Northland yesterday.

The 13-year-old team captain, Jiah Thomas of Whangarei, said she screamed so hard when they won gold, she lost her voice.

"I feel like a world champ. I feel awesome," Jiah said.

"It was so close. We didn't know who had won. When we found out we just screamed the place down."

The Kamo High School third former was beaming about the team's success at the event, which hosts more than 40 countries and 2500 paddlers.

"I just can't believe it. It's still sinking in," Jiah said.

The rest of team Te Houtaewa live in Kaitaia. The girls trained on Lake Ngatu, 10km north of Kaitaia, three times a week to prepare for the event.

The team won gold for the W6 500m sprint, silver for the W6 1000m sprint and teamed up with Wellington team Matakokiri to take out silver in the W12 500m sprint.

Jiah travels north to train with the team, but thanks her natural talent for getting so far in the sport in just four years competing.

"Everyone says I have the potential to win and go far. I'm gonna do it," she said.

The student has her sights set on the world singles competition in New Caledonia in 2010.

Caption: SUCCESSFUL: Northland waka ama crew Te Houtaewa celebrate their multi-medal win at the world champs, from left, David King (coach), Korina Te Rore, Riana King, April Warwick, Haley Tawha, Pare Holyoake with Jiah Thomas in front.