News
May 2022 Newsletter
Published Thu 12 May 2022
Athletics Wollongong's Delta Amidzovski has been announced as a member of the Australian team contesting the World U20 Championships. As the youngest Aussie on the plane to Colombia, she's attracted quite a deal of media attention: there have been stories in the Mercury, a profile on Fox Sports, and an interview on WIN News.
Australia sadly withdrew from the previous World U20 Championships, with the team - which included AW's Rosie Tozer and Tierney Dunne - instead engaging in a meet against New Zealand's juniors on the Gold Coast. Our club's history with the event goes back to 1990, with sprinter Rebecca Vormister the first to represent (in the 4x100m along with Cathy Freeman!). High jumper Petrina Price is the only AW athlete to make it onto the medal dais thus far, winning a bronze in 2002.
The 2022 World U20 Championships, featuring Delta Amidzovski in the 100m Hurdles, will be held August 1st - 6th.
Delta Amidzovski Fundraising BBQ
To assist Delta in paying the substantial team levy, the club will help coordinate a BBQ at Wollongong Bunnings on June 11th. We are now putting the call out for volunteers on the day. Shifts are for 2 hours, with the earliest from 8am and the final one commencing at 2pm. Send an email to athleticswollongong@gmail.com if you are keen to donate your time.
An alternative means of support is to contribute directly to the GoFundMe endorsed by the Amidzovski family. You can do so at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/delta-amidzovski-journey-to-the-u20s-world-title.
Also making their Australian representative debut in the coming months will be Athletics Wollongong's Thomas Noakes. He'll be at the Pacific Mini Games, to be held on Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, June 17th-25th. The Games are a multi-sport event for athletes from across Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia. Australia is participating in the track and field component by invitation, with athletes born 2003-2006 invited to nominate for the team earlier this season.
Thomas will be contesting the Javelin and will have his first crack at the Open-age implement - though he wouldn't say 'no' to a spot in the Octathlon being held there either! After winning the NSW U20 Decathlon title in January, he missed out at Nationals, hurting his hamstring in his final training session and having to withdraw; this event may give him some measure of solace.
The club is currently assisting Thomas with pursuing some corporate sponsorship. If you, or a business you know, would like to extend him some support, we can put you in contact.
It slipped under our radar last month when a 'Regional Australia' team was announced to contest the Oceania Championships by invitation. Three AW members were selected: Zoe Daniels (U20 Discus), Thomas Noakes (U20 Decathlon), and Karlee Symonds (Senior Para Long Jump).
Sadly, Karlee - a visually impaired athlete - has had to withdraw from the competition, continuing to have difficulties in sourcing a guide. Zoe Daniels is also no longer a member of the Regional team...having been subsequently selected in the Australian squad!
A huge team of 335 will be in the green and gold in Mackay, contesting events in the U18, U20, Open and Open Para divisions; Zoe will contest the U18 discus on June 8th.
Held alongside the Championships will be the Oceania Athletics Masters Challenge. The participants list isn't available yet, but I'd be surprised if none of our clubmates were participating!
Winter Distance Running Pointscore
You needn't be representing the nation to be running this time of year, you could just participate in your local parkrun! The competition window in Athletics Wollongong's Winter Distance Pointscore Competition is now open. To participate, members can contest any parkrun event, held at various locations from 8am on Saturday mornings. There are local editions at Sandon Point, North Wollongong and Killalea but, if you're traveling or on holiday, you can find plenty more listed at https://www.parkrun.com.au. You'll also need to create a free profile on that site and associate yourself with Athletics Wollongong (else alert our Winter Season Co-ordinator Ron Perry to your performances).
The competition window is open 'til the end of August. Participants' top six age-graded performance percentages will be averaged to determine overall winners (and Most Improved if you also participated last year). You can find more info regarding it all HERE.
This Saturday marks the debut of a a new course in Bowral; consider making the trip!
ANSW's Winter events have also commenced, with the Sydney 10 attracting some of Athletics Wollongong's distance running afficianados. Ron Perry and Olivia Sivills contested the 5km race, while Ros Perry brought home a silver medal in the 70-74 Women's 10km.
Next on the calendar is the St George Classic, incorporating the NSW Novice Cross Country Championships (with the debut 1980 women's event won by a 13yo Kerryn McCann!). The history of the men's event stretches way back to 1911 and you can be part of it all by entering this year's edition: https://www.nswathletics.org.au/events/136639/. A variety of distances are on the program, along with some Fun Runs - if you're keen and don't have a Winter, Open, Concession or Dual membership.
Check the ANSW Calendar for more walking, road and cross country events over the coming months. There's even a Winter Throwers Meet or two listed (weather/ground conditions obliging, of course).
As an incorporated association, Athletics Wollongong must hold an annual general meeting where the club's financials are presented and officebearers are elected for the following year. Athletics Wollongong's AGM will be held on June 14th, from 7pm at the Tennis Club.
The official Meeting Notice will be sent out in the next week or two but, at this stage, we encourage everyone to give some serious thought regarding how they might participate on the club committee. Many of the current members are pulling double duty (or more!) to fill vacancies, as well as having been around for 15+ years. It's unfair to lump all the work on such a small number, as well as unhealthy for an organisation not to have new blood in decision-making roles. Growth comes from new ideas or from challenging the status quo - without growth, the club can stagnate.
Here are the position descriptions for the roles that will be up for election at the AGM:
All roles will be open - and existing Committee members intending to stand again may be happy to shuffle around to accommodate, or to job-share - but, if you're at a loss as to where you could fit in, note that we are yet to field any interest for the following positions: Secretary, Publicity Officer, Development Officer, Uniform Coordinator, Fundraising and Sponsorships Officer, Grants Officer, or the portion of the Race Secretary role dealing with external events.
We are very interested in speaking with anyone who has even an inkling of interest. Please contact athleticswollongong@gmail.com, or speak with a current committee member, for an obligation-free chat.
Public Exhibition of Council Documents
Wollongong City Council have put a suite of documents on public exhibition which cover the plans, budgets and programs that they intend to enact in the near-future. Included among them is the Draft Revenue Policy Fees and Charges 2022-2023 document which, among other things, indicate the prices they intended to charge for activities at Beaton Park Leisure Centre from the start of the next financial year. While it's a lengthy document, you could just search for "Kerryn McCann Athletic Centre" to find the relevant information.
If it prompts you to make a submission, you can do so up until the end of this month. To see all of the documents in the suite - and submit your feedback regarding Council's plans - go HERE.
Beaton Park - Community Support
Speaking of Council, now live on the Beaton Park Leisure Centre website is information regarding the Community Support they can provide. As far as athletics goes, this has previously included free entry to eligible coaches and to officials on club duties. Beaton Park are now also accepting applications for support from individual athletes. Up to 10 Centre memberships will be offered each year to assist those training at the facility. Applicants need to live in the Wollongong City Council area, be a member of a club resident to the facility, and of a standard where they are qualifying for Championship events. To see more details - and apply - check the website here: https://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/leisurecentres/join/community-support.
Athletics Wollongong's Presentation Night was held on April 30th. There were some unfortunate clashes that weekend so we're getting in early for next year: reserve April 29th, 2023, folks!
We still had a remarkably good turnout, so thank you to those who came and celebrated the achievements of their clubmates this season. With sometimes contrasting athletic goals, from social fitness on a Wednesday all the way to national representation, it's a rare opportunity for all our members to be in the same place at the same time. I'm sure that many faces were put to names and that there were a lot of people who left the venue inspired by each others' efforts.
A full list of award winners is available online. If you were unable to collect any items of yours on the night, they'll be available at the track at next season's meets (or by arrangement, otherwise).
The major awards went to:
- Encouragement - Scott Bazley and Ivy Foster
- Most Improved - William Willis and Mary-Ann McPherson
- Most Outstanding Youth Athlete - Delta Amidzovksi
- Most Outstanding Masters Athlete - Rebekah Power
- Most Outstanding Para Athlete - Charlize Colwell
- Most Outstanding Track Athlete - Holly Rea
- Most Outstanding Field Athlete - Chelsy Wayne
- President's Award - Maiya Hewitt
- Ron Bragg Club Spirit Awards - The Swinbourne Family
- Club Person of the Year - Olivia Sivills
Australian Masters Multi Event Championships
Caroline Ellis had a top excuse not to make it to Presentation Night: she was in Townsville at the Australian Masters Multi Event Championships. It was a worthwhile trip for her though, winning the 45-49 Heptathlon title.
The Australian University Games were held on the Gold Coast last month, with two AW members taking part: Eve Way in the 400m Hurdles and Tierney Dunne in the sprints. Tierney did particularly well, taking out the blue riband 100m in a time just outside her PB. It was a similar story for her in the 200m, only with a different-coloured medal, finishing in 3rd position.
AW's Adriana Van Bockel made her way to Perth - finally! - for the Australian Masters Games. The event was postponed several times, but: good things come to those who wait. Ada collected a gold in the 70-74 Weight Throw, silver in the Javelin, and bronze medals in the Hammer and Throws Pentathlon.
Next stop on her athletics tour is the World Masters Outdoor Athletics Championships in Finland this June/July. Hyvää Matkaa! ("Bon voyage!", in Finnish)
Australian Little A's Championships
Dual Member Maiya Hewitt was part of the NSW team contesting the Australian Little A's Championships in Melbourne last month. Finishing top 5 in both the Long and Triple Jump, she collected a silver medal in the 200m Hurdles. Well done!
A crack AW team comprised of James Mcpaul, Mitchell O'Neill and Michael Doodson made their way to regional Victoria for the world's richest footrace, the Stawell Gift. The handicaps weren't the friendliest for our boys, but Mitch impressed in the big dance, progressing as far as the Gift's semi finals. He did even better in the 100m handicap, winning his heat and semi, before a second placing in the final earned him a cheque.
NSW Masters Throws Pentathlon
NSW Masters were lucky to find a break in the wet weather - and an open venue - for their Throws Pentathlon State Championships. Adriana Van Bockel took out the 70-74 division, with Christine Shaw winning silver in the 60-64's.
It's carnival season at Beaton Park, which means that there may be lots of newcomers both training and competing at the facility. If you have any connections to school athletes, please try your best to pass on this message regarding spikes: 7mm is the max length on the track, with only the 'pyramid' or 'Christmas tree' styles being permitted. If anyone's unsure regarding spikes, you can purchase some approved ones - at cost - from the Leisure Centre front counter.
There has been some marked degradation to some areas of the track surface noted recently and the manufacturer Polytan has put the likeliest cause down to incorrect spikes being used. While a track resurfacing is in Council's budget planning, the funds won't be available for a few years yet. The entire track community will have to help nurse the facility to that date.
Road Cycling Champs volunteers
A call has gone out to community sporting groups regarding volunteering at the upcoming Road Cycling World Championships. If you want a front seat to the action, behind-the-scenes access, or just want to help showcase our city to the 300,000 visitors that this event is anticipated to attract, you can lodge an application HERE.
Coming Dates
- 21st May - St George Classic, Ramsgate
- 22nd May - NSW Short Walks Championships, Chipping Norton
- 22nd May - IBS Winter Series, Beaton Park
- 29th May - NSW Throwers Club Winter Meet, Greystanes
- 4th June - Cross Country Relays, North Ryde
- 7th - 11th June - Oceania Athletics Championships, Mackay
- 12th June - Delta Amidzovski Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser, Wollongong
- 14th June - Athletics Wollongong AGM, Tennis Club
- 18th June - NSW Cross Country Championships, Nowra
- 21st - 25th June - Pacific Mini Games Athletics, Saipan
- 26th June - IBS Winter Series, Beaton Park
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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