As the summer season draws to a close, some of the major State championships have been held in terrible weather. Little A’s competed last weekend in terrible conditions, whilst the junior State championships held the weekend before, had mixed weather, some events being changed from the Friday evening over to the Saturday. Members of Blue Stars have had a good season with the club members now being selected to contest the National titles to be held in early April.
LACHLAN PARRY - OPEN MEN
Male sprinter Lachlan Parry will line up again at National level after he met the standard set for the 100m. Lochy has had a good season and although he has mixed results throughout due to injuries, he has progressed, once again to the highest level within our Australian Association.
He will be joined by jumper; Corey Williams in the U23 division, qualifying for the high jump and being named in the State team due to his win in the State U23 long jump. He too, has had injuries and illness and great to see this talented young man making the team.
Our junior athletes of IBS had a great championship, held two weekends ago at Homebush with many recording personal best, and improving with each performance.
ALEX del POPOLO - U18
Javelin champion Alex del Popolo has been included in the State team having met the standard set for national qualifying but has missed both Country and State titles due to school cricket semi and finals. He will certainly show his talent with the javelin when he lines up in the U18 men’s Australian titles and if he can reproduce his best 60m throw, he is certainly among the leaders.
ELLIAS OLDFIELD - U16
U16 400m athlete Elias Oldfield has been competing well all season, and his personal best time over 400m has earnt him a spot in the State team. His times over both the 400m and 200m have improved greatly and the experience both at State and now National level will be of great benefit to him as an athlete.
CALLUM BROWN - U17
Callum Brown has had a great season, recording personal best times over 100m and 200m to meeting the qualifying marks for Nationals. He was on target to have a great State juniors but illness prevented him from performing at his best. National titles will enable him to show his talents. Teammate, Alex Harris has also had a great season, but has failed by the smallest of margins to meet the qualifying time for both the 100m and 200m.
U20 sprinter, Jonty Faulkner has missed State selection by the smallest of margins , 4/100ths for a run at national level over the 100m. Faulkner missed the State U20 titles due to other commitments and took on the older division U23 at State level, and the experience at this level will be invaluable to him when he moves into this bracket next season.
Javelin thrower Charlotte Smith did not have the best of conditions to compete in at State juniors but took out 5th placing in a highly competitive field of throwers, following on from her Country championship success.
GRACE ADAMS - U20 HURDLES
Great to see her return to the track and meeting the qualifying time for the U20, 400m hurdles. Grace Adams has now made the switch to the longer hurdles. She is improving with each run, and her performance at State Juniors, gives her the right to contest the nationals over this gruelling event.
Sister Ashlyn has also qualified for national level over the short hurdles but will take a rest due to shin injury.
CHELSEA EZEOKE - U16 SPRINTS
Talented 400m athlete, Chelsea Ezeoke has not performed over this distance this season but is using the 100m and 200m as a build up to challenging the 400m a little later. Still only very young, she has many years to tackle her favourite event, but her strong running over the 200m gaining the bronze medal at State Juniors, is showing many positives. Chelsea will take on the 200m at National level and will be a strong contender as she keeps on improving with every run.
BRODIE McCLUSKEY - U15 SPRINTS
LAUREN PERCIVAL - U18 SPRINTS
The talent from Ulladulla has been a winner for Blue Stars with Corey Williams an Ulladulla man, and now two of the State’s leading female sprinters, joining up with IBS. Both Lauren Percival and Brodie McCluskey have worn the colours of IBS very proudly and proved themselves to be among the best junior sprinters in the State. They will now both take on the Nationals, and strong placings in both the 100m and 200m is well within these two talented young sprinters. Brodie is U15, whilst Lauren will contest the women’s U18.
Overall, the club has had a very successful State campaign and to see the number of athletes selected for State honours to contest the Australian in early April, has shown the talent the club has in all age brackets.
NOW ON TO WINTER
Blue Stars will have a break from summer club competition for a while but will resume the popular Winter Cross Country and Winter Track and Field program. Once again, the winter track and field program will be conducted on the 4th Sunday of each month, with the first round to commence in May, followed by June, July and August. The monthly meets will have a few changes to events each round and will be great competition for school age athletes and members keeping fit. The club’s cross country proved popular last winter and is expected to bring runners together over a variety of courses that will be on offer.
All members will be circulated with information on both events and also the Club’s Annual Awards and Presentation.