Santa paid a visit to the Kerryn McCann Athletic Centre last Sunday to wish all members and supporters a Happy Christmas and a successful New Year, and at one stage stole the limelight from the club’s Christmas Skins and Handicapped Mile.
Joining in a festive mood, junior athletes ran their hearts out in the elimination 60m skins event, combining the men’s and women’s U8, U10 and U12, and were ready and back on their marks after each gruelling elimination sprint. U14 and U16 were the same, but it was the U18, U20, Open and Masters that had a number of runs over the 60m before the final athletes were down to three in both the men’s and women’s. Handicapped on previous runs, both divisions ran over a number of 60m with the men coming down to the final 3 of Josh Bell, Geoff Hynoski, and Andrew Lau. Hynoski was run out leaving Bell and Lau to battle it out, but it was newcomer Andrew that took the award. In the women’s, the final three were Lynda Douglas, Gianna Mogentale and Grace Adams, locked together at the finish, with Mogentale just being edged out, to leave Masters athlete Lynda Douglas and Adams fighting out the finish, with Adams prevailing to take out the women’s skins. But after a number of races over 60m, all athletes were showing a little fatigue, and a nice cool drink after was appreciated by all who ran.
The Christmas handicapped mile was exciting, with back markers, Darrin James and Geoff Hynoski, moving through the pack, but the handicap was too much for the “flying James“ who ran down 9 of the athletes but had to hand the title to the juniors who finished in 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions.
A Christmas barbecue was conducted after with athletes, officials and supporters mixing together, and President Geoff Hynoski announcing to members the first half of the season being a tremendous start for the club. He then wished everyone a successful second half with the Illawarra Track Challenge on the 14 January followed by Country Championships in Dubbo on the 20, 21 22 January. The President also acknowledged the support of Dual Registered athletes and welcomed all who attended.