IT WILL be a speedy day at McNamara Park tomorrow as students from across the state compete for a top place in a human powered vehicle race.
Saint Martins Lutheran College students are in full preparation mode for the big race with their newly created vehicles ready to speed along the track.
Taking part in the UniSA HPV Super Series, the students will have home ground advantage as they face off against 69 other teams from across the state in the first round of the competition.
A part of the school’s extra curricula activities for 10 years, the HPV squad boasts students from all ages, along with parents and former scholars.
Training each Sunday, students have shown their dedication to the dynamic sporting event, pushing their fitness and practicing for extended periods of time in the HPVs and on regular push bikes.
“It is hard work, but we need to increase our fitness to ensure we don’t have too many changeovers throughout the race,” HPV coordinator Briodie Wilson said.
“It is an open track so we are looking to get some good speeds up and hopefully no one will roll it.”
This year the school will put forward four teams – primary, community, open and an all girls team for the first time.
“It is really exciting to have a team of girls in the new HPV called Anything But Orange,” Ms Wilson said.
“Geoff Wood from G Strikes has created the fantastic vehicles for us again and we are confident they will get us across the line.”
New team member Year 6 student Bethany Yates said she was looking forward to showing off her new skills on the track.
“It has been a lot of fun practicing on weekends and I have made new friends in the process,” she said.
“I don’t know what it is like to be in a race, so it is a bit nerve wracking but also exciting.”
With the race set to begin at 9am, Ms Wilson said they could not be any more prepared for the first event.
“We are aiming for another top five and are feeling quite confident,” she said.
“However, it couldn’t happen without the whole community support, so thank you to the parents and ex-students for the time and energy they have put into the program.”
