Never has the Kerryn McCann Athletic Centre witnessed a track meet like last week's Illawarra Track Challenge. A record number of competing athletes a record breaking day, presented in sunlight, a great wind but, in one particular case, a wind that Rohan Browning could do without.
Browning delivered the goods running a fantastic 100metres in 9.96 to shake the crowd and the grandstand. Wollongong has never seen a run like this before, the state hasn't and Australia has only seen a couple prior to this. His running on the day was a joy to watch, but his run over the 60metres was just as impressive to take out the state title from defending champion Ana's Abu Ganada and Camden's Joshua Azzopardi in third.
Blue Stars top sprinter Lachlan Parry made a return to the track to run a great race to make the final finishing in seventh spot. The women were not to be denied and competing for Kings Sport Store state 60metres title, defending champion Abbie Taddeo had to settle for second behind up and coming sprinter Monique Quirk from Campbelltown, with Illawong/Revesby athlete Carlie McCiver in third.
The night was full of running and the Mens Bing Lee mile was on target for a sub-four-minute mile with 800 champ Jeremy Rolf setting a strong hard pace. But running just over the four minutes, Bankstown Will Austin Gray had all the running in his legs to take the title from Run Crews Jarrod West and Randwick Botany's Richard Newell in third spot.
The Jessica Hull mile for the state women's mile title was run the same way but the brilliance of junior athlete Immogen Stewart saw her set a very strong front running pace only to be run down in the final stages by UTS Norths Kate Spencer and club mate Isabella Thorton Bolt with Stewart finishing in third.
Both events were another highlight and saw strong fields in both, with defending women's champion being relegated to third. Blue star members performed well against some of the very best with under 14 Matthew Arregui taking second in his state title event Brodir McClusky finishing sixth in her under 16 title, Calem Brown fifth in the under 18 men’s 60 and Jonty Faulkner coming in at fifth spot in the under 20 60 metres.
The supporting events were very strong and commonwealth games rep Alex Hulley showing her great hammer experience throwing a massive 61metres. Blue Stars Alex del Popolo was another to show and improvement when he took out the A class javelin recording a massive five metre PB throwing 60.62.
What a day evening this turned out to be and will certainly be a hard act to follow but next year it is hoped that once again Wollongong will witness top line athletics like we have seen last Saturday.
To our sponsors Bing Lee, Kings Sport, Simon Hull Tiling ,a big thank you and we hope more will support this great event, our officials and supporters for a fantastic event, our fellow officials of Athletics NSW and to the athletes who made this event one of the best.