Perfect sunny Wollongong weather presented itself for the IBS Interclub Meet conducted in conjunction with Athletics NSW. Over 350 athletes travelled from all parts of the State to take part in what can be classed as one of the best meets the Club has hosted. Great support from our local athletes and IBS officials along with outside athletes and officials of ANSW saw an event programmed around sprints, middle distance and one throw - javelin and one jump - triple jump.
Athletes geared up and star of the men’s sprints was NSW 60m champ Campbelltown’s Anus Abu Ganaba who ran a wind assisted 10.26 and then backed this up with a solid win in the 200m in a good time of 20.91. Our top IBS men were Corey Williams, Liam Ryan, Jonty Faulkner in the 100m, whilst junior athletes Alex Harris, Calem Brown and masters male Andrew Rodda were the best of our IBS members.
In the women’s 100m and 200m, another double was taken out when Monique Quirk won both in 11.48 and 23.54. Quickest registered IBS member in the 100m was newcomer to our club, Lauren Percival, Brodie McCluskey and Ashlyn Adams, whilst in the 200m, Lauren stood out again with Chelsea Ezeoke making a good return to the track, and once again U14 athlete Brodie McCluskey.
South Coast hurdles champ Sarah Carli took out the women’s 400m in a personal best time 54.66. Training partner and Blue Stars athlete Monique Byers and training partner Sue Seitaridis along with Athletics Wollongong Tayissa Buchanan were hard to separate in a hard-fought women’s 400m. IBS Chelsea Ezeoka was just over the minute in her first 400m this season.
Surprise winner of the men’s 400m had to pull out a personal best when James McPaul (AW) took out the men’s 400m with IBS Cameron Chisolm coming in 4th overall. Commonwealth Games representative Nick Hough showed fine form over the 110m hurdles and having qualified for the Olympic Games, he is now waiting to hear if he is selected. Women’s open hurdles was won by Jessica Wong from UTS Norths. A great race was witnessed in the men’s 800m won by Joshua Atkinson from Rohan Laurendet. Atkinson recording a quick time of 1.53.77. Fastest local athlete was William Dyball, with the Nowra club filling a lot of the minor placings. In the women’s section 800m was won by Sutherland’s Amy Bennet with Kembla Joggers’ Grace Pomery being the highest placed local. Top Blue Star athlete Jessica Hogg was the top placed IBS member coming in 9th overall.
The open men’s 800m saw Liam Ryan (IBS) finishing in 13th spot overall followed by Colin Clarson and Andrew Rodda, two of the club’s masters’ men athletes.
In the field events, Blue Stars 17-year-old javelin thrower Alex Del Popolo threw a personal best 54.74m, while Asics West John Crandell throw the spear 60.47m. Sydney University athlete Connor Murphy was the star of the triple jump with a great jump of 15.86m.
Overall, the meet produced some fabulous results with junior athletes lining up against seniors and masters in an event that is not conducted in age but ability in that particular event. What a great day of fast quick competition that has brought athletes down to Wollongong to compete against our own local athletes. Well done everyone.
Interclub was a big hit and a great promotion of our sport.