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The NSW All Schools Championships have hit the half-way mark and Athletics Wollongong members have been putting on some cracking performances. It's little wonder the club is having such a large impact with an incredible *48* AW athletes having entered the event.
You can track the results of your clubmates via the daily threads posted in the AW Facebook Group. The initial posts will include details of when Athletics Wollongong members are competing and the thread will be updated each time someone wins a medal, as well as include a summary of all results at the end of the day's competition. People are invited to add to the threads: passing on their well-wishes, congratulations, or photos/videos from the event.
Interim daily results are also being added to the Results page on the club website.
Finally, if you can't be at the track, don't forget the action is being live streamed via new broadcast partner Cluch. If you miss any of the events you can catch up with them afterwards on their website.
The first half of the season has positively flown by. There's just one more week left of Athletics Wollongong's Wednesday Summer Series for 2021. The good news is: it's a biggie. We'll be marking the occasion by holding our Christmas Special.
Exciting events are on the cards and the foremost of these will be 'The Athletics Wollongong Gift'. It's a handicapped 100m race, with the club's fastest sprinter running the full distance and everyone else receiving a distance headstart based upon their previous performances. If all goes well, everyone should cross the line more or less together, with the victor being the one who just wanted the win the most.
There are plenty of reasons to want that win: one hundred of them, in point of fact. All of which are courtesy of Trueflow Plumbing, who have sponsored a prizepool of $100 to first place, $30 to second and $20 to third. As The Gift is handicapped, just about everyone has a chance to win. All are welcome to participate, but only AW club members can progress through to the final where the winners will be determined. Thank you once again to Russell Rann and his company for putting up the prize.
More prizes are on offer in the other big track event of the evening: The Chocolate Run. This is also a handicapped race, where everyone runs the full 800m and slower runners get a timed headstart based on their previous performances. It's a bit of a lucky dip, as it's shocking how much faster the prospect of chocolate can make people run!
While we've been exceedingly lucky regarding the weather, there was one round where we were unable to complete the throwing events on account of the infield being closed. Unfortunately, that was also the only time it was programmed in this first half of the season. We'll be catching those throws up this week also.
Finally, every gathering at this time of year needs to have some good food and we'll be putting on a free BBQ for our members and their supporters. In previous years we've asked people to bring a plate but, times being as they are, we'll give that a miss this time around.
December 15th, the same date as our Christmas Special, marks the further easing of COVID restrictions by the State Government. If these remain unchanged from what was announced several weeks ago, people who are not fully vaccinated will be able to access the Leisure Centre - and AW's meets - for the first time.
It's likely that QR code check-in will still be required (as that remains the rule for gyms and it seems unlikely that that will vary depending on patrons' usage of the Centre). It also appears that masks will no longer be required when transiting through the Leisure Centre.
Note that this information is weeks old though and the Government has cautioned that it may be 'fine-tuned'. It doesn't become the law until it's written in a Public Health Order and put in force by the Minister. Please have patience with Wollongong City Council and Beaton Park staff, as this information sometimes becomes available very late and they have little chance to train employees, apply to local circumstances, receive legal advice, etc.
We'll be updating the COVID Safety News on the club website once the situation becomes clearer; please give it a read over before attending this Wednesday.
We'll also continue asking people to RSVP for AW meets in the meantime, but will review any ongoing need with Beaton Park management prior to our return in the New Year.
Track Access
The South Coast and Highlands Zone Little Athletics Championships will be held at Beaton Park on December 18th and 19th with the track unavailable to other users during their booking. (The Region 4 Carnival will also be held at Beaton Park on February 5th and 6th).
The Leisure Centre recently advertised their opening times over the Christmas-New Year period.
Athletics Wollongong's 2022 Return
We're not done yet - there's still our Christmas Special this week! - but AW's Weekly Wednesday meets will pause over the Christmas-New Year period before returning for 2022 on January 5th. We've got plenty of fun planned for the latter half of the season, so don't miss out!
It'll be 2022 before we know it! For a number of years now, Athletics Wollongong has helped provide athlete check-in and late entry services at the Australia Day Aquathon. The event is run by former club member Rob Battocchio and is a tremendous advertisement of the City of Wollongong and the enjoyment that can be derived from outdoor, physical exercise. Appreciative of our help, Rob makes a donation to the club which in turn helps us provide services to our members.
Going by previous years, we'll need around 15 people to assist us on January 26th, from 6:15am to around 10am. The roles aren't too onerous at all. We add to the on-the-day experience by being positive and light-hearted and receive the same back from event entrants. While helpers will be on their feet, there won't be too much moving around and we'll be safely undercover.
As added incentive, note that Financial Assistance from Athletics Wollongong (for members attending Nationals, for example) is only granted to those who assist in Club fundraising efforts.
If you can help, please send an email to athleticswollongong@gmail.com.
Bunnings BBQ
If the above doesn't suit your availability, or you're more of an Epicurean at heart, Athletics Wollongong will be hosting a BBQ at Wollongong Bunnings on February 19th. Just mark the date in your diary for now; we'll be putting out a call for helpers early next year.
Athletics Wollongong had our largest representation at State Relays for a number of years, the bulk of that coming from our Masters Women who had teams across various divisions in the 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m events. Their sum total over the weekend was one gold and three silver medals. Congrats to those Masters who comprised the teams: Caroline Ellis, Nicole McHenry, Rebekah Power, Skye York and Suzy Moran.
Suzy had bragging rights over her son Riley Moran, with Riley "only" picking up the one silver medal in the U18 4x200m, alongside Calem Brown, Callum Ran and Lucas Campbell.
The club had further success in the U18s division, this time in the Women's 4x100m. The team of Abby Cox, Imogen Harrison, Jada Schillert and Kailee Moore scored themselves a bronze.
Finally, AW's Ashleigh Goncalves and Susie Seitaridis combined with Kembla Joggers' Brodee Mate and Sarah Carli for a South Coast team in the Open Women's 4x100m and 4x400m. The team got plenty of attention with a Tokyo Olympian on-board and they didn't disappoint, taking out the 4x400m event comprehensively.
Full results of AW's athletes at the NSW Relay Championships are available on the club website.
Club Captain
As part of our anniversary celebrations, Athletics Wollongong announced our Club Captain for Season 2021/22. Selected by the AW Committee, the Club Captain serves as a shining example to all competitive members. The full list of criteria is available here: shorturl.at/noBCI - and from that it's clear to see that Nicole McHenry was a top choice. Congratulations once again Nicole, and thank you to Anthony Howlett who held the role during its reintroduction last season.
Coming Dates
Contact Details
Email davidrosswollongong@hotmail.com with athletics news to include in our regular Illawarra Mercury column. Send other enquiries to athleticswollongong@gmail.com.
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