Illawarra Blue Stars have completed 3 rounds of the summer season and athletes are moving back on the track and showing some good early season form. Return to track and testing herself out last weekend was Stephanie Power. Power looked very comfortable over both a 60m and 100m at last Sunday’s meet. Hill training has been part of a build up for sprinter /jumper Talissa Scott also moving along nicely after an injury. Meanwhile our club members had good performances at the Treloar Shield with our men showing the way with Mick Daley, Darrin James and Peter Shepherd all having good runs, along with Joshua Park and Trey Barlow in the discus.
Our junior athletes have performed so well at the recent NSW All Schools with our throwers really taking the limelight. Discus thrower Marie-Louise Meier took out a well deserved 3rd placing in the discus and then backed this up with a good 5th in the shot, while 12 year old Trey Barlow took out the silver medal in both the shot and discus. It was his shot that impressed with a mighty personal best, but he is certainly a young man with a lot of talent in both events.
Newcomers to IBS Grace Adams made a great debut by making the finals of her sprint and hurdles while her new club mate Marguax Chauvet will turn heads as the season progresses with a great 3rd in the girls 13years 400m. This talented young sprinter can look forward to a good summer season showing pace over all three sprints, 100m, 200m and 400m, but it is her talent over the 400m that impresses.
Jake Attwell performed well in the walk and under the guidance of Sue Sundstrom he too can look forward to a very good summer.
Over in the Cook Islands competing in the Oceania Championships, sprinter Gianna Mogentale has added 6 gold and one silver to her collection, while club mate Mary Thomas has dominated all her throwing events in her age bracket. Middle Distance athlete, Colin Clarson also contested the OceaniaChampionships, his first international meet, and had some great performances also.
Our primary school members have completed the schools carnivals when they contested the state titles. Charlotte Smith and Emma Matthews performed well , both girls recording personal bests over the 800m in their respective age bracket. Matthews, who recently joined IBShas yet to decide her favourite events, showing recent good season speed overthe short sprints, but then running very good 800m and just recently at club level, a very good 2km. With all round talent at such a young age, she will decide at a later age the events she may concentrate on.
IBS have added some special events for the summer season, including an event with a difference when the athletes will take on beach sprinters later in December. Both parties have welcomed this new event – “Trackies versus Beachies” on Sunday 20 December.
Round 4 of club competition will take place on Sunday commencing at 2.00 pm. and all athletes are welcomed to compete.