Athletics Wollongong Gift

The Athletics Wollongong Gift is a handicapped 100m race being held this Wednesday.  With slower runners getting a headstart, any AW member can win from the prize pool: 1st - $100, 2nd - $30, 3rd - $20.  Handicaps are based on electronic times attained during the season: marks will be released in the days prior.  Check the News listing on the club website.

To enter The Gift, there will be a sign-up sheet on the noticeboard on the night.  Tick the box beside your name by the time that announcements have finished (approx 5:35pm).  

You'll be called to the line for your heat, with winners there advancing through to the final prize round.  Thank you to the Life Members Fund for putting up the cash.  See you all there!

Christmas Special

The Athletics Wollongong Gift is just one element of the club's Christmas Special being held on Wednesday, 18th December.  While it might be the evening's biggest attraction, there's plenty more fun to be had with a free BBQ for our members and supporters, a 4x400m 'chocolate' relay, a final catch-up of our missing throws events, and some fun and games.

It'll be a great night that we hope you'll be a part of.  Then it's a 2-week break over Christmas and New Year's before AW's meets resume for the latter half of the season on January 8th.  (Remember: no age group changes on Jan 1st this season!)

BIG January

Aside from AW's Wednesday Meets, there are plenty more events being held next month:

• Illawarra Track Challenge - this will be the largest all-age athletic event held locally this season.  Incorporating the NSW 60m and Mile Championships, there will also be supporting events - similar to a Treloar Shield meet.  January 11th @ Beaton Park
• NSW Country Championships - the best event on the calendar!  Members of clubs based outside the Sydney metro area are eligible to contest the Country Champs.  It's the largest event held for all ages and that makes for a great vibe, with the whole family able to compete together.  Entries are open and - as they close on January 6th - there's a chance you might miss the window over the silly season; do it now!  January 17th - 19th @ Maitland.
• Combined Event Championships - at our club meets we encourage members to participate in all programmed events, so we have a history of strong representation at these Championships.  'Combined events' include pentathlons, heptathlons and decathlons, where participants amass points across a series of events.  January 25th and 26th @ SOPAC.
• U20 and Open ACT Championships - this event has proven popular over the years, with athletes from NSW also able to participate.  This event is for those turning 16 or over in 2025.  (Note however, that there is a Junior edition being held the following month).  January 27th - 29th @ AIS in Canberra.

Details on these events - and plenty more besides - are available on the NSW Athletics Calendar.  To contest them you'll require an Open, Concession or Junior membership.

Australia Day Aquathon

The final club fundraiser for this season is the Australia Day Aquathon, where we're once again asked to help out at athlete check-in.  It's a really fun couple of hours where we can also earn a bit of money for our club.  Anyone who would like to assist early on January 26th at Wollongong Harbour are welcome to submit their interest now to athleticswollongong@gmail.com. 

This will be the last opportunity for those hoping to qualify for financial assistance from the club to attend the National Junior and Open Championships.  There are only limited positions available, so be sure to be in contact soon, if those events are an aim of yours.

Club Captain

This season's Club Captain was announced at our 'Beaton Park Anniversary' club meet.  This night recognises our first competition held at the ground, way back in 1958, and serves as a reminder of the selfless acts made by volunteers that have incrementally improved Athletics Wollongong over time. 

As part of the commemoration, we award a deserving member the title of 'Club Captain'.  Widely respected, they represent the 'ideal' club member: always striving to improve, giving encouragement to others, displaying great club spirit, and acting as a role model.

It was a great pleasure to bestow this honorific for Season 2024/25 upon Scott Bazley.  Congratulations, Scott!

National All Schools Results

It was a spectacular performance by our members in Brisbane at the National All Schools Championships.  10 took part from AW and - while everyone should check the full results - it would be remiss not to congratulate our medalists:

• Augustus Moore (U14) - 400m: 2nd; 4x200m Mixed Relay: 2nd
• Chelsy Wayne (U18) - Shot Put: 2nd; Discus: 2nd
• Cheyenne Murray (U17) - 800m: 1st
• Mackay Jones (U18) - High Jump: 1st
• Maiya Hewitt (U16) - Long Jump: 1st; U17 400m Hurdles: 1st
• Sidney Bartle (U14) - Hammer Throw: 1st
• William Willis (U18) - Hammer Throw: 3rd

Athlete Shorts

• Our 50+ Masters have qualified for the Treloar Shield Final: best of luck this weekend!
• It's been a little delayed on account of the weather, but Athletics Wollongong will make its debut in the South Coast Highlands Zone Championships this weekend.  Best of luck to our 15 representatives!
• PanPac success with all 4 of AW's members participating - Tim Bradford, Cristine Suffolk, Montse Ros and Anthony Howlett - bringing home medals.  Well done!
• Though it's about the only thing she hasn't won of late, Delta Amidzovski was nominated for Young Athlete of the Year at NSW Sports Awards.  Great work!
• Mitchell O’Neill marked himself as a hot Stawell Gift prospect with a debut professional running win in Cobden.  Seymour beckons this weekend; best of luck to the crew making the trip!
• 11 AW teams contested the State Relay Championships.  Check the results for the full story, but special mention must be made of the team of Christine Shaw, Natalie Heywood, Rachel Shaw and Rebecca Kay, who smashed the meet record in the women’s 160+ javelin. They accumulated a total of 101.73m to add 20 metres to the old mark.  Incredible!
• Success at the School Sports Australia Championships: Xavier Wilson and Bella Cooney were members who both picked up medals.

Female Athlete High Performance Program

Exciting news with the development of a new Female Athlete High Performance Program based at the University of Wollongong.  We've had many members excited to be part of the Illawarra Academy of Sport offerings over the years: this seems enhanced and to the max.

This 24-week program is designed to support and develop young female athletes across a range of sports, providing them with the tools they need to perform at their best, while supplementing their current training and playing environments.

The 2025 program is aimed at female athletes of all sports in Year 9 and above (14 years and older) who are committed to taking their performance to the next level. It's designed to complement and enhance their existing training environment, providing additional resources and individualised support to help them succeed both on and off the field.

Especially appealing: it's not a sign-up, it's an expression of interest.  Before taking anyone on, they're keen to hop on Zoom and be sure you're a good match for each other.

More info and the EOI form is available HERE.

Kerryn McCann Scholarship

Applications are now open for the 2025 International Women’s Day Illawarra Scholarships.  Every year International Women’s Day (IWD) Illawarra awards eight scholarships of $2,500 each to support local women in the community seeking to enhance their knowledge, skills and experience in their fields.  The scholarship categories include the 'Kerryn McCann IWD Scholarship for Women', which is awarded for Sports.  AW members have previously had success here; nominate yourself or someone else you think is worthy.

Coming Dates