The second part of the summer season of 2020/2021 will commence with a bang, and it will be on our home ground, the Kerryn McCann Athletic Centre here in the Gong on Saturday 16 January 2021.
The very popular Illawarra Track Challenge is expected to draw athletes from all clubs, with the State men’s and women’s 60m titles up for grabs, plus the State 1-mile championships for both men and women.
Defending champion in the Women’s Kings Sports 60m, Abbie Taddeo is expected to defend her titles but admits that there are a lot of other athletes out there that have a very good chance. Fast and quick out of the blocks, Taddeo has shown over the many years that she has won this title, that she is one of the quickest over this short distance, and will certainly be a force again on 16 January.
The open men’s 60m is also going to be a fast quick race, with many sprinters in the line up to take the title away from defending champion, Campbelltown’s, Anas Abu-Ganada. Anas will be like Taddeo, very hard to beat as his speed over the short distance is one of the best. His recent performances over the 100m ,200m and 400m indicates he is in form, so trying to take the title away from him is going to need a classy 60m sprinter.
The State medals will also be up for the younger athletes, both men and women, in U14, U16, U18, U20 and the major two over this distance, will be the open.
Masters’ athletes will be catered for over this distance also, with the Blue Stars medal on offer for masters in 10 year age brackets, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60 plus, both men and women.
The State Mile championship is expected to be another draw card, with many of the middle distance athletes taking place in major mile races prior to this State title event and are on form to present another thrilling mile races in both men and women.
U20 athletes will also be vying for the State title as with masters 35 plus, in men and women.
Hosted by Illawarra Blue Stars in conjunction with Athletics NSW, this event is expected to be yet another success and the club would like to thank our major sponsors, Kings Sports Store, Bing Lee Shellharbour and Simon Hull Tiling.
Supporting events are also expected to draw good fields, and from previous years, the event has given athletes the chance to qualify for major meets, such as Olympics, Commonwealth Games and World championships. Open to all ages and graded on prior performances, there will be 100m, 400m, 3km, hammer, javelin and long jump for both men and women, the ideal way to have good competition prior to Country and State titles.
Entries are to be lodged through Athletics NSW for both the State title events (60m and 1 mile) and the supporting events. No late entries will be taken.
Come on members of IBS let’s see good representation in this major meet.