More than 3500 athletes will contest this major meet bringing together the top junior and senior athletes from all states and territories. Competing at Homebush, the titles will go from April 1-7, and spectators will see the best up-and-coming juniors and the senior athletes vying for selection for the World Championships. It is one of the biggest and best athletics meets on the calendar and our own local Illawarra Blue Stars athletes will be among them all.

Contesting her first Australian championships will be high jumper/sprinter Grace Shaw, coached by Ron Thompson/Valmai Loomes who will contest the under 18 women's high jump after her qualifying effort in the country and state titles.

Seasoned performer Grace Adams, coached by dad Wayne Adams, will again contest her favourite event, the short hurdles, and has to be a big chance in this event after her gutsy effort in the state titles and also Little A's championships. Her sister Ashlyn, also coached by dad Wayne will also take to the hurdles in the under 16 division, and after her PB and state Little A's win, has to be a very good chance.

Sprinter Emma Matthews has had ups and downs the later part of the season and will prepare herself mentally to take on the sprinters in the under 17 100m and 200m and is determined to be up there in the top bracket.

In the men's, under 18 walker Jake Attwell will take to the track in one of the most gruelling events of the lot, the men's 5km walk. Qualifying through the state open men's titles, Jake is coached by Sue and Jodie Sundstrom, and has recently recorded a personal best time over this distance.

He will be joined by club mates, senior sprinters Lachlan Parry and Kyle Grubnic, both coached by Peter Lawler, Parry qualifying for both 100 and 200 and Grubnic in the 100m. The men's open 100m is expected to be the drawcard of the championships, and the most competitive event on the program, with men aiming to meet qualifying marks for the World titles. To make the semi-finals of these events will be a fine result and both men are capable of doing that.

Training partner and also coached by Peter Lawler, Connor Dymond, has qualified for the under 23/open hurdles and although suffering a back problem for most of the season, this talented young man has earnt his spot. 

The curtain hasn't come down on the Masters as yet, but they will have to wait until the final week of April for their major Australian titles to be held in Melbourne. The club once again will be well represented by Gianna Mogentale, Diane O'Toole, Rina Flynn, Mary Thomas, Sara Guevara and John Lamb. Mary Thomas is currently in Poland in the World Indoor titles and will return home just in time to board a plane to travel to Melbourne, a hectic schedule for anyone.

Blue Stars will open the winter track and field series on Sunday,  April 7, with a program of sprints and throws. This has been designed to assist the masters prepare for the Australian but is all ages from under 8 right through to masters men and women. The club will also hold its first cross-country run for the winter on this day, and athletes are asked to meet at the Wiseman Park oval at the back of the bowling club at 10am. Track events will start at 10.30am on Kerryn McCann centre with sprints to be 60m, 100m, 200m plus hammer, shot and javelin.

The club will also hold track meets every fourth Sunday of the month from May, June, July and August and also an open cross-country program that will be open to all ages and abilities. See website www.illawarrabluestars.com for further details or contact 42628498 for further information.