What a tremendous performance by our Athletics Wollongong clubmates at the NSW Junior Athletics Championships.  While the medal tally was very healthy - 12 gold medals, 10 silver and 6 bronze - what was most encouraging was the high level of participation.  Our 41 members in action made us the most represented country club and in the top 10 clubs overall. 

While the below text concentrates on our medal-winning performances, it should be noted that is not the only measure of a successful effort.  Indeed, many of our competitors didn't come away with a medal, but did attain their goal: a National Qualifying performance.  Others had more personal goals: comebacks from injuries, or just simply a season best performance.  For those who achieved what they hoped: congratulations.  To those who may not have succeeded as much as they wanted to: hopefully it lights a fire to improve even further in your next competition. 

Cheers to all the coaches and other supporting staff (not least of whom: the athletes' parents!) who helped make the below all possible.  Here are some highlights from AW members:

• Triple Gold Medalist Delta Amidzovski GU17 proved once again that she is a dominant force.  Winning the 100m Hurdles (13.51s) and long jump (5.64m) titles within an hour, before returning for her third victory the next day: the 100m in 12.14s
• Maiya Hewitt GU14, showed her huge talent in the horizontal jumps, winning both the triple and long jump (4.85m).  It was a particularly convincing win in the triple jump, being the only competitor to successfully clear 10 metres on each trial, winning with 10.45m.
• Harry Keats BU14 made a stunning debut in the club colours, winning gold in both the 400m (57.66s) and 800m (2’11.39s). 
• Holly Rea GU16, continued her run of medal-winning Championship performances, winning gold in the 100m (12.17s) and silver in the 200m (25.06s).
• Chelsy Wayne defended her State title in the U16 Discus.  Her gold medal winning distance of 45.56m was such that she qualified to compete in the Open Age category at Nationals - as a 15 year old!
• Callum Rann, BU18, marked his return from serious injury with gold in the 400m and another sub-50s performance with 49.51s.
• Naomi Gibson GU17 won gold in Pole Vault, clearing 2.90m in very difficult conditions.
• William Willis BU16 won gold in the discus, in more thrilling fashion than one would like, leaving it to a final round throw of 52.76m.
• Multi-event Lara Check, GU20, showed her versatility, winning a silver medal in the Triple Jump (10.99m), a bronze in High Jump (1.60m), and a bronze in Long Jump (5.54m)
• Tayissa Buchanan GU17 won silver in the 800m (2’10.66s) and bronze in the 400m (57.37sec)
• Charlize Colwell GU17 won bronze in both the Para Ambulant 200m (32.34s - 83.83%) and 100m (16.13s - 81.22%). Charlize bucked the bronze trend, by also collecting a silver in the Para Ambulant 400m (1'17.24s - 78.06%).
• Zoe Daniels GU18 was in a tight tussle for the Discus State title. Her 44.13m effort was within 50cm of the winner, and was also an Open Age National Qualifier.

• Ashleigh Goncalves, GU20, interrupted her 18th birthday weekend to take out a silver in the 400m (55.94s).

• Eve Way, GU20, matched that silver with another in the 400m Hurdles (68.71s).

• Olivia Sivills, GU20, ran to theme is this age group, winning a silver in the 3000m Steeplechase (12'07.53s)

• Mackay Jones, BU16, will be going to Nationals with a top-3 finish in the pole vault.  He made extra sure of it by finishing in 2nd spot with 2.20m

• Thomas Noakes BU20 also won a silver in the Pole Vault, though his clearance was over 3.80m

• Zaniah Hourigan Carrera, GU16, made her competitive debut in the worst possible conditions for pole vault, though won a bronze medal, clearing 1.80m