State Championships
It's Championships Season! The NSW Championships are now spread across four categories, with Youth, Junior, Open, and Masters events being held for various age groups.
For those new to this level of competition, note that there is no qualification process or performance standard to attain in order to participate in most of the State Champs. If you want to be a part of the event, you typically just enter online. Note that entry is only open to those with the appropriate membership level, i.e. not Volunteer, Official, Trialing or Community. If you hold one of these membership types and wish to enter, you'll need to upgrade first: easy to do online at the club website.
The next Championship closing date is for the Junior Championships, with events held there for the U14 to U20 groups. Make sure your entries are in before this Friday, 23rd Feb, at 12pm. The event itself will be held March 8th through 10th.
Both the Youth and Open Champs will be held on March 14th-17th. While Open Champs entries are available now (and close 1st March), Youth entries are yet to to open.
The inaugural Youth State Champs (for those in U8s to U12s) are unique in that there is a qualification process. The top two in each event at the respective Regional Championships - the final of which were held this past weekend - will progress. Those outside of those placings still have a chance to get there, with the remaining spots going to the next highest ranking athletes. Performances counted at Regional Champs, as well as at Treloar meets and the Country Champs. Keep an eye on your inbox to see if you have made it.
The first Championships to be contested will be for our Masters athletes, i.e. those greater than 30 years of age. Entries have already closed and competition will commence on March 2nd. Best of luck to all of our clubmates there.
Athletes' Choice
We only have four more nights to go in our Summer Series of weekly Wednesday meets! There are two more "regular" competitions, where we will complete the fourth rotation of events in our pointscore competition, and then our season will round off with two special weeks.
The first of these special weeks sees the return of Athletes' Choice on March 6th. Everyone will get the chance to vote for the events to be held that night (NB - we've already pencilled in the steeplechase as everyone's favourite distance event). You'll vote online for a sprint and middle distance for everyone, as well as a throw and a jump for your age group.
It'll also be the final night of the pointscore competition, so you could be tactical and choose events you know you go well in (some of the age groups are very close!) else just vote for your favourites.
Season Finale
Our final week is so special it deserves it's own heading. While March 13th could be a sad occasion, given it'll be our final meet of Season 2023/24, we have a HUGE send-off planned that you'll want to be a part of!
First and foremost, we'll have a free BBQ for our members and their supporters. We'll also have some fun events: the Many-vs-One Relay (where everyone gets involved), picnic games, a gumboot throw, and a handicapped 800m run with chocolate prizes.
The main event though will be the 60m Skins Champion of Champions. This is firstly an elimination event: groups will run a series of handicapped 60m races with low recovery. The last across the line will be eliminated from the remaining races until it's a shoot-out to progress to the final. The final is where you really want to be, as a one-and-done handicapped race will determine who's taking money home! The prize purse is being donated by FitTech Studios and also Anthony Howlett.
We hope to see you there!
Presentation
The Club Presentation Night will be held on May 4th at Wollongong Tennis Club, from 6pm. It's an opportunity to say farewell to the season we have shared together and congratulate your clubmates on their achievements (and they on yours!).
To see what awards we give out, check out this list of last year's winners. It's a fun and light-hearted evening, where we aim to be long gone by 8pm - breaking for some light refreshments midway through to keep our energy levels high.
To aid with catering we'll be asking for RSVPs a little closer to the date. More details to come on the club website/in the next club newsletter.
Tennis Club Membership
As per above, the venue of our Presentation Night is the Tennis Club - our neighbour in the Beaton Park sporting precinct. The T.C. is a sponsor of Athletics Wollongong. One leg of our deal is that we are reimbursed a percentage of purchases made across the bar and bistro by Tennis Club members who have noted an affiliation with our club.
We strongly encourage our members to also join - and patronise - the Tennis Club. WIth a one year membership there costing only $10 ($5 for student or pensioners), you'll be most of the way to earning your money back in savings just at Presentation.
Membership forms are HERE and can be submitted anytime at the Tennis Club bar, or their reception during office hours. Remember to note 'Athletics Wollongong' in the Sponsorship Group section.
Chemist Warehouse Summer Series
The razzle dazzle of this season's highest profile meets are underway, with the cream of Australia's athletic crop going head-to-head against some of the world's best.
Athletics Wollongong have had some representation, with Mitchell O'Neill contesting the 200m at the Adelaide Invitational, and Delta Amidzovski in the Long Jump in Melbourne.
Next to come is the Canberra Track Classic on March 2nd, with our local edition, the Sydney Track Classic to follow on March 23rd. Tickets are on-sale now and a packed E. S. Marks Oval will provide a great spectator experience.
U20 World Champs Qualifiers
A target for several of our AW clubmates this season are the U20 World Championships, to be held in Lima, Peru this August. Their first challenge is to attain the necessary qualifying performances,
Chelsy Wayne has proven our most prolific qualifier, throwing beyond the discus mark of 49.00m on five occasions.
Tayissa Buchanan is close behind, running under the 800m time of 2'09.00 in four races so far.
Delta Amidzovksi has attained qualifiers in two events: the 100m Hurdles (three times) and Long Jump (once).
There's a little more to selection in the team, with limited spots and multiple qualifiers, but we'll be cheering on our clubmates the whole way - hopefully all the way to South America!
NSW Country Championships
What a tremendous weekend we had in Wollongong, co-hosting the NSW Country Championships. It was the first time the event had been held locally in six years and the excitement was clear among our members: 127 entered! With that level of interest, it was perhaps unsurprising that we took out the club pointscore competition, but certainly no less pleasing.
Thank you to everyone who was part of Country, representing the club admirably on the sporting field and as part of our team of volunteers tasked with delivering the event.
It's little wonder why Country Champs are considered the best event on the calendar. Road trip next year!
Illawarra Track Challenge
We were spoilt by the Illawarra Track Challenge, with the highlight being the overthrow of Australia's Sprint King Rohan Browning in the 100m by Josh Azzopardi.
The event also included the 60m and Mile State Championships, with several AW members making their way to the top of the medal dais. .
Our newly crowned State Champions in the 60m are:
- Lucas Hill (U12)
- Michael Melfi (U14)
In the Mile, we congratulate our Champions:
- Rebecca Kay (40-44)
- Emma O'Sullivan (45-49)
World Leading Age Times
A feature race was held at Athletics Wollongong with an attempt to top the fastest 600m times on record. AW's Harry Keats is now noted as the quickest 13 year old boy with his time of 1:24.57s, while Harlow Pate is the holder of the 9 year's girls' mark with 1:44.14s.
Athletics Wollongong Gift
Taking first place and $100 in the Athletics Wollongong Gift was crowd favourite Skye York, who had only made it through to the final as a wildcard. Second went to Keira Rejske, with Aaliah Gaudiosi making it an all-girl clean-sweep.
Thank you to long-time event sponsor Trueflow Plumbing for putting up the cash! Consider them for all your home and workplace bits and pieces.
Australia Day Aquathon
Thanks must go to Athletics Wollongong's volunteers for their invaluable support at the Australia Day Aquathon. For years, our cheerful assistance at check-in has set a positive tone for participants. Our involvement adds significant value to the event, fostering a sense of fun and community. The donation we receive from organisers goes to club athlete support, nurturing our talent and providing essential resources. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to both the success of the Aquathon and the development of our athletes.
Coming Dates
