Performances by Illawarra Blue Stars athletes over the past week have been encouraging for the full summer season. Great to see sprinter Cameron Chisholm back on track, who ran a well judged 400m at club meet on Sunday, but it was the 100m that was impressive. Chisholm will add to the clubs men’s U20 relay over both 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m at the upcoming State relay titles. The club’s masters men also rang impressive at the Treloar Shield with Mick Daley, Peter Shepherd and Darrin James all having good runs. They too setting themselves up for an attack on the relay titles along with one of the club’s other male masters sprinters, John Lamb. Adding to this squad will be Colin Clarson who can contest any event from 100m through to 1500m.
Rina Flynn contested the Treloar Shield running over the 100m and 400m as did thrower Mary Thomas, who scored well for the club taking out her throwing events, the discus and hammer.
Both backed up at the club’s meet on the Sunday, Thomas throwing even better than the Saturday performance for the hammer.
At the club’s Sunday meet saw U12 middle distance athlete Thomas Cleverly outsmart his more seasoned opponent in Geoff Hynoski when he used some smart tactics over the 1500m. Cleverly ran a personal best time, lining up against his older opponents, with Colin Clarson running close to his personal best, while Charlotte Smith also had a great run over the same distance.
Good news has come to the club with Australian, and NSW Open Shot champion, Chelsea Lenarduzzi signing up with the club again for the summer season. Lenarduzzi had an impressive season last year winning both titles, and will go into both titles as defending champion. Now attending Queensland University, it is great to see this talented young lady remain with her local club, under the guidance of her coach Peter Lawler.
A talented group of U14 women have emerged with the club this season and also look promising for some good relays in the short sprints, the 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m.
Athletics NSW State Relay titles will be held on the Blacktown Track on 14 and 15 November, with members reminded that no club point score will be held on that weekend. Due to Homebush being resurfaced a number of events have been changed to various locations, including the relays and the Country Titles in January 2016, now to be held at Campbelltown.
Illawarra Blue Stars have added a new innovative event to this season’s track program, with the “Trackies taking on the Beachies”. As an added event, Blue Stars athletes will take on one of the local surf club’s beach sprinters over distances ranging from 60m through to 400m. To be conducted on Sunday 20 December, the event will be classed as the Christmas gift and will give the club additional competition from athletes they very rarely compete against. The beach sprinters are also looking forward to competing on the track, and are willing to take on the club’s male and female sprinters on our home turf. Two of Blue Stars track stars, John Van Stappen and Darrin James are former beach sprint champions who have many highlights of their careers on the track and continue to do so, while IBS junior female sprinter/long jumper Katie Lewis is one of the best female beach sprinters in the area.
Any athlete interested in joining Blue Stars are encouraged to do so, with registrations taken all season, but will also be advised of the club’s coaching structure, dual registration and encouragement offamily participation. Phone 4262 8498 for more information.