Illawarra Blue Stars rewarded their athletes and officials for a great season of 2020/2021 when they conducted the Annual Awards and Presentation Evening at the Dapto Leagues Club. Conducted in the Sinclair room, the venue was ideal, and members were treated with an evening of trivia, luck door prizes, platters of beautiful fruit and awards being presented.
NSW reps Lauren Percival scooped the pool when she took out the Female Sprinter of the Year and also the Outstanding Athletic Performance for her win in the Australian U18 200m title. She was joined by Lachlan Parry as Male Sprinter of the Year, who joined with Cameron Chisolm, Jonty Faulkner, and Liam Ryan to take out the Outstanding Male Athletic Performance for their great win in the country men’s Open 4 x 100m relay.
Outstanding jumper Corey Williams took out the Jumper of the Year for his long and high jumping, gaining him a spot at the National titles.
Juvenile athlete Matthew Arregui took home the Juvenile Athlete of the Year Award for his fine performance at Illawarra Track Challenge, Country and State titles.
Jessica Hogg was another to win more than one award taking out the Overall Women’s Point Score by only 2 points but was then named the Club Distance Athlete of the Year, along with male distance athlete, Sam Jones.
Overall men’s point score winner Liam Ryan also had a good evening whilst Gianna Mogentale took out the female Masters point score, and doubled this up with being awarded Female Sportsmanship and Continued Support to Club award. Masters men’s overall winner Andrew Rodda took out his division 50 plus and then took out the overall masters point score.
Long time throws champion, Mary Thomas was awarded the Thrower of the Year along with U20 javelin ace, Alex Del Popolo. His mum, Lisa Roberts, herself a former State javelin rep, was there to receive the award due to Alex having another commitment.
Family affair to the Jodie Redman, taking out the ideal Club Woman award along with Corey Hogg in the men’s section, but Jodie’s partner Mark Mathews was not to be denied by claiming the Male Sportsmanship and Continued support to the club.
Long serving officials/athletes, Jodie Sundstrom and Ian Smith were rewarded for their great efforts over the season by being named Loyal Support to club.
Masters supporter Rina Flynn was awarded the Steele Family - Elvire Asprey trophy for her love of the sport, determination and dedication to athletics. The Adams Family, father Wayne and Mum Amanda were awarded the GE and JH Loomes award for their ability to be able to support their two girls, Grace and Ashlyn through the highs and lows of the sport.
Rookie Masters athletes, Justin Miller and Lisa Quinn shared the award, both having outstanding seasons in the Masters’ section of the sport. The President Award chosen by president Sue Sundstrom was awarded to Ulladulla sprinter Brodie McCluskey, for her fabulous efforts throughout the year culminating in making the sprint finals in the U15 100m and 200m and supporting her new club from a distance taking part in All Schools, the track challenge, ACT titles, State titles and then onto Australian.
Making her way to becoming a fully qualified technical official, Sally Barnes took home the Official of the Year Award, a just reward for an official who has moved from Little A’s official to becoming a fully qualified technical official with Australia.
The club encourages all athletes, but four awards are given out to athletes who the club believes have talent and should continue in the sport. Sharing the Braeden Gibbins Award for track went to female sprinter Chelsea Ezeoke, and male sprinter Elias Olfield, both talented junior athletes over distances from 100m right through to 400m. In the field, the award went to long jumper/sprinter Ethan Thickett and javelin thrower Charlotte Smith.
The evening saw members of the club join together in what can be classed as “the off season” but members are reminded of the cross country and winter track and field series the club offers.