Illawarra Blue Stars conducted the club's second round of winter series for June, and the "play of the day" went to senior male sprinter Lachlan Parry, showing great form over the 60m and 200m, for so early in the off season.
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Great to see a number of the club's open male sprinters with Chris Devery and Cameron Chisolm also showing good "off-season form". Emma Matthews used this to her advange and lined up against the men, she too having a good run over the 200m, in good preparation for her regional and zone school carnivals.
The third round of winter series will be held on Sunday, July 28, at Kerryn McCann Athletics Centre from 10.30am. Events will be 60m, 150m, javelin, walk triple jump and 2x800m relay, for all ages male and female. The final winter meet will be held on Sunday, August 25, with 100, 400, hammer, long jump, walk and 2km being conducted. Great opportunity for athletes to have a good final hit out prior to travelling to Canberra for Combined High Schools to be held in Canberra.
Open to all athletes, it's an ideal preparation for all age athletes and people who just wish to have a go at track and field prior to summer. Great to see so many of the local athletes doing so well at their school carnivals and Zone and then heading off to their Regional titles, and hopefully moving onto state titles later in the year. With some also contesting cross-country titles, many have a hectic time with both being conducted for school age athletes.
Sad to hear of any coach retiring from the sport of track and field but it is even more so when it is a local person who has given so much of his time and effort into the sport of track an field. Rick Watkins has decided to call it a day and he makes no bones about it when he says that he isn't enjoying it like he used to. I have known Rick since he came into our cub with his daughter Kylie, herself a very good sprinter and especially over the 400m. He has been dedicated to the sport and has nutured many over the years including Australian Long Jump champion Talissa Scott.
He will be sadly missed, not only by the clubs such as Albion Park Little A/s and also our own club, but by the athletes that he had in his "camp". Thanks Rick for a job well done and I know that you say that you derived a lot out of the sport. But you as a coach and mentor have put a huge amount of time and effort into the sport through local athletes and parents who really do appreciate it. Enjoy the next chapter in your life along with wife Lyn who has supported you all the way in athletics.
Illawarra athletes are well looked after when it comes to grounds etc to be used for both competition and training. Although the Kerryn McCann track does need some upgrading, such as more storage and shade, it is still one of the best tracks around, and we are grateful that we have such a facility in the area.
This is backed up by the beautiful setting that Kembla Joggers have so successfully developed for cross-country running. With both seasons being catered for, summer and winter, we are very fortunate compared to many other regional areas.
IBS had the use of the Kembla Joggers course on Sunday and what perfect conditions to have a good cross-country run. It is a credit to the local K/Js how they have presented and produced such a great course in our local area for cross-country running and IBS appreciate the opportunity of competing on this course for our local weekly cross-country.
Athletes enjoyed the flat terrain of the course, and to a degree, it is a fast person's course, compared to the cross-country course in Nowra of up and down steep hills and rugged terrain.
Next round of cross-country for IBS members and any person who wishes to join in, is once again a flat type course, held at Fairy Meadow. Meeting at Fairy Meadow surf club, the course does suit the speed athletes. To start at 10am, the event will be held on Sunday, July 7, with two distances of 3km and 6km.
Mark July 14, in your calendars but yet to be confirmed, is the popular King and Queen of the Mountain, to be conducted over the tough course of Mt Kembla. This event was postponed recently due to bad weather and dangerous conditions.
A challenging course but one that is popular amongst the cross country athletes.