Youngsters battle it out in Sainsbury's School Games at Clairville Stadium

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Doug Moody

Sainsbury's School Games Festival at Clairville Stadium

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Sporting youngsters from across Teesside battled it out to show who could go higher, faster, or further.

Hundreds of schoolchildren packed into Clairville Stadium for The Sainsbury’s School Games in the Tees Valley Athletics finals.

But this was no ordinary sports day – with officials checking photo-finishes, a visiting Paralympic silver medallist and a full day of track and field events.

Local organising committee member Craig Walker said the event was designed to reflect Paralympic and Olympic values in an inclusive competition.

He added: “For the students, this is their Olympic Games.

“Since we first started three years ago, it’s got bigger and bigger and bigger. For many, this will be the highest level at which they will compete.

“It’s a balance between supporting and challenging pupils but the key thing is that it’s inclusive.

“We have disabled and non-disabled pupils competing here today. Everyone has a sporting story, for many here today, we’re giving them their stories now.”

Big crowds cheered athletes to the finishing line and gave those on the podium a hero’s reception.

All the young people qualified after playing in intra and inter school festivals and competitions in their local districts.

Taking to the podium after the Year 6 Boys 600m final were Mackenzie Dicicco, who won gold, Daniel Payne, who took silver and Kai Hilbert, who picked up a bronze medal.

Mackenzie, 11, a pupil at Captain Cook Primary School, in Marton, said: “When you come around that corner and past the stand, it makes you run a bit quicker because everyone is cheering.

Daniel Payne, 11, a pupil at Levendale Primary School, Yarm, said: “It’s good to win a medal.”

Kai, who attends Avenue Primary Schoolm, in Nunthorpe, has run cross country for Middlesbrough AC.

He said: “I train quite a lot but I’m quite tired now.”

Handing out the medals was 2012 Paralympic men’s 1,500m silver medallist for Ethiopia, Wondiye Fikre Indelbu.

He said: “It’s important for children to keep fit and eat a good diet and it’s nice for the them to be involved in an event like this.”

More than 1,400 young people from Teesside will celebrate their year-long participation in sport at the Sainsbury’s School Games.

This year’s games builds on the success of previous years thanks to £25,000 of National Lottery funding.