Wonderful weather and good relaxed atmosphere paved the way for some quality performances at the NSW Country titles held last weekend in Mingara. Put back from the original date in January and the date that all athletes and supporters are so geared into each year, many athletes could not travel or take time off from work when the dates were changed. Regardless, the team from Illawarra Blue Stars performed very well, and came away with PB’s, national qualifying marks, and a swag of medals.
Outstanding was the performance of our senior men who once again performed so well to take the 4 x 100 metres in fine form. One of the most dominated events by the club, two newer members came into the squad , Jonty Faulkner and Liam Ryan replacing injured Kyle Grubnic and ill Corey Williams, but performed to a very high standard to help club mates, Lachlan Parry and Cameron Chisolm defend their title.
The club had members in all brackets from junior athletes through to masters, with Grace Adams making a return to the track and recording a national qualifying time for the U20 women’s 400m hurdles. Star junior sprinter Chelsea Ezeoka took out her 200m in national qualifying time. Newcomer to the club, Lisa Quinn came home with a bag of medals in her first masters Country titles and also surprised herself, but an Australian Masters hockey rep, her speed over all distances showing through in the 40-49 age bracket.
Lachlan Parry backed up his country 2nd in the 200m and 4th in the 100m, by moving into the semi-finals of the State titles held on the weekend. He was joined in the State semi finals by club mate Kyle Grubnic who made a return to the State, whilst high jumper/long jumper Corey Williams put country titles behind him and cleared 1.96m to meet the national qualifying mark in the high jump with a good leap to take out 5th in a quality State field. He is back on track and will improve with each performance.
Click here for club athletes’ results
Meanwhile, two of the club’s female speedsters Brodie McClusky and Lauren Percival travelled to Canberra for the ACT Youth Championships and came home successful with Brodie taking out the 15years 100m and 200m and Lauren gaining 2 silver medals in both the 100m and 200metres. Both girls will now gear themselves for the NSW State titles, along with other members of the club.