Townsville athletes in top shape

November 30th, 2009

A GROUP of Townsville's top young athletes are expected to shine when they represent Queensland at the national schools athletics titles in Hobart next month.

Seven teenagers from Townsville schools are looking to bring home medals and may have the chance to represent Australia on the world athletics stage.

The Townsville contingent will join more than 1500 athletes and 270 officials at the Australian All Schools and Youth Athletics Championships, which is the largest track and field event on the Australian calendar.

Bradley Edwards and Hayden Clarke, both from Ignatius Park College, Amie Ashelford, Alex Ypinazar, Matt Bailey and Kerri Tibbs of Pimlico State High School, and Alexandra Kanowski, of Cathedral College, have already scored great results at the state titles in Brisbane in October.

Their coach Sue Boyd said she had high hopes the students would bring home more medals from Hobart.

Boyd said they would come up against the best young athletes in Australia at the national titles.

''Most of these athletes gained personal bests at the state titles in Brisbane which is attributed to all the hard work they have put in all year, so there is no question why any of these athletes can't achieve great results in Hobart,'' she said.

''Matt Bailey, who is 17, has already been earmarked as a potential member of the world junior team for July next year.

''This all depends on his placings and times at this meet.''

At the State titles Edwards scored a gold medal in the 400m sprint with a time of 51.8secs while Clark also took a gold medal in long jump with 6.27 m.

Matt Bailey won a silver medal in the 400m  sprint in a quick 48.74secs as well as taking the silver in the 800m with a time of 1min. 57secs.

Tibbs and Kanowksi both took silver medals in triple jump with 11.45m and 11.70m.

Ypinazar came fourth in triple jump with 13.50m and sixth in long jump with 6.45m.

Ashelford brought home the silver medal in long jump with 5.13m and in the triple jump with 11.30m

Athletes in overdrive for world titles

NATALIE PEUT

December 12th, 2009

TOWNSVILLE runners Matthew Bailey and Shannon Smith are on track to achieve their goal of competing at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Canada.

Both 400m runners have been selected in the Athletics Australia world junior shadow squad which aims to provide the athletes with the best opportunity to make the team to represent Australia in Canada.

The squad allows Athletics Australia to monitor their progress and be in regular communication with coaches and athletes and offer support where necessary.

Their training sessions have intensified as a result but both said it was challenge they were ready for and excited about.

''It's an overload man, it's going to be intense but I'm ready for anything,'' Smith said .

''Now that I'm in the squad, my aim is to get into the actual team - I don't want to stop here.''

Bailey, who already spends three times a week at the track and two times a week in the gym, was confident he could handle the new training schedule.

He said he expected it to become a lot more serious.

''It's going to be a lot more intense - but I've got to improve and get my time down.''

Bailey took silver in the 400m at  the Australian All Schools championships in Hobart recently, taking 0.33 off his personal best time. If he can continue to get his time down to the 47.3secs mark by March, he will have a good chance of making the Australian team.

It was the first major competition the 17-year-old has competed in since a bad run of injuries to his hamstring and Achilles.

Smith did not attend the All Schools competition so she could concentrate on her base training in preparation for next year's meetings which she hopes will qualify her for the world championships.

''A few athletes stayed behind to concentrate on their base training, if we had gone to the All Schools we would have had to do more speed and endurance work. Not going gave us a better chance to get the base we need to compete at our peak and qualify for the World Juniors,'' Smith said.

Bailey and Smith will both continue training over Christmas for a string of big meets early next year - the Queensland track and field titles in February, the under-23 Queensland track and field titles in March and the under-23 Australian track and field championships in April.

Australian All Schools results:

Secondary school finals: 6th Amie Ashelford under-14 triple jump final 11.18m, 10th Jordyn Mulherin under-14 triple jump 9.93m, 4th Alex Ypinazar under-17 triple jump final 13.76m, 4th Arthur Ketchell under-18 javelin final 57.41m, 7th Amie Ashelford under-14 long jump 4.90m, 7th Isis Flynn-Pittar under-17 3000m 10.53.50secs, 7th Hayden Clarke under-15 triple jump 12.54m, 6th Amie Ashelford under-14 high jump final 1.61m, 5th Kerri Tibbs under-17 triple jump 11.61m, 6th Isis Flynn-Pittar under-17 800m final 2:16.97secs, 8th Bradely Edwards under-15 400m 52.57secs, 4th Cameron Hooker under-16 triple jump 12.95m, 2nd Hayden Clarke under-15 long jump 6.03m, 4th Alexandra Kanowski under-16 triple jump final 11.55m, 2nd Matthew Bailey under-18 400m final 48.41secs, 7th Bradely Edwards under-14 200m final 23.87secs, Matthew Bailey under-18 4x400m 3.17.84secs.

Primary school finals: 1st Brenton Foster 11 years high jump 1.53m, 1st Rita Fontaine 12 years 800m 2.19.93secs, 2nd medley relay, 2nd Kimberley Jenner 11 years high jump 1.51m.

Townsville Bulletin - 18.09.2009 

RISING sprinter Shannon Smith will use next month's Ergon Athletics North Queensland Championships as a springboard on to the world stage.

Hundreds of competitors aged from four to masters will descend on the Townsville Sports Reserve from October 2-4 for the biggest athletics meet on the NQ calender. While some will be in it just for the participation, many highly regarded athletes will be fine-tuning their training for upcoming international meets. Townsville Athletics Club member Smith is one of them. The teenager is coming off a strong season that saw her record national qualifiers in the 100m, 200m and 400m, while last year she was named in Australia's under-18 squad. ''The best thing about this meet is that it really pushes you to higher heights,'' Smith said.

''The Athletics North Queensland Championships are just amazing and a perfect stepping stone for any athlete who wants to take the next step with this sport. ''Ultimately I'd love to qualify for the World Junior Championships in Canada next year, but we will just take it one step at a time.'' The championships have events ranging from 100 yards (Hector Hogan sprint) to 5000m. Combined events, including the decathlon and heptathlon, will also be offered. The Athletics Australia Jump Start to London team will once again make the trip to Townsville, many of whom are striving for national success early in 2010 with hopes to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Tristan Nelliman-Adams is a member of the Jump Start squad and is also a potential future Cowboy in the NRL as part of their development squad. As well as 27 athletes from the Jump Start program, 15 competitors from Papua New Guinea will make their way to the championships and another 60 from Rockhampton are also locked in. Nominations for the NQ Championships are now open and can be found at www.athleticsnorthqld.org.au or by phoning the ANQ Office on 47281365.

Townsville Bulletin - 19.03.2009

DESPITE the signs of a flu coming on, Townsville's Ashley Hollins has his mind set on a medal when he competes at the Australian track and field championships this weekend in Brisbane.

With self-belief and hard work behind him, the javelin thrower hopes he will qualify for the world championships. At 28, Hollins has made an impressive comeback to the sport, after giving it away as a teenager.

Hollins was dubbed a natural by his coaches as a junior but lack of confidence led him to give up the sport. Hollins believed maturity and the inspiration of his two boys Mathew and Nathan has allowed him to have a good crack at the sport once again. "I thrive on the sport now and I just want to keep on improving," Hollins said. "Basically, I had the potential as a junior to take it all the way – but I never actually believed it myself.

"Now I actually believe in it and I'm hungry for it.

"My two boys drive me all the way, they love everything I do and they get a real thrill out of my medals."

05.03.2009 

Townsville’s famous PlaytimeDash for Cash was held in the heart of the city and hosted by the Townsville Road runners over a picturesque 4.6km course. As 350 competitors lined up for the race the eventual winner and course record holder was Defence Force Athletics distance competitor Anthony Craig. Anthony’s blistering pace put him almost over a minute ahead of other competitors as he took the title and the $500 winner’s cheque. Anthony was using this meet to assist with preparation for the Open Championships in Brisbane where he has qualified for the 3000 meter event. Anthony’s prize money covered the cost of his new shoes which took him to victory. When asked about how he thought the race went he said “I think the heat this morning affected a lot of runners. There were also a few hills which I was pushed on early on from other top place getters and kept me going. ” Anthony’s partner, Daina Surka was the Women’s winner. Daina mentioned that “having someone to train alongside on those days you really don’t want to get out of bed help’s a lot!”

Townsville Bulletin - 04.06.2009 

SOME of North Queensland's biggest names in athletics – as well as a host of up-and-comers and amateurs – will come together this weekend in Townsville for the ANQ Student Games.

The event, which has been running since 1976, will be held at the Townsville Sports Reserve with over 400 competitors from across the region set to compete in a range of track and field events. The basis of the games, the biggest outside of the North Queensland Championships, is around youth, with children from as young as five to compete with events all the way up to the masters division.

ANQ president Yvonne Mullins said the games were ideal for young athletes to hone their skills ahead of school competitions and local sports where athletic abilities are key. "We've got heaps of competitors in a lot of events which is something that we don't always have," she said. "We've got a lot of good athletes, a lot of good young athletes and it's really for the schools to get ready for their school competitions. "Athletics is the basis of every sport that we play so if we can help it can't be a bad thing. "In terms of what the carnival does, it exposes athletes to sport, athletics is not just for the elite level it's for every ability."

March 28th, 2009

AS if being an Olympic medallist, motivational speaker, occupational therapist and Pride of Australia nominee wasn't enough, Julie Smith has achieved the lot with a disability.

The Pride of Australia Medal, supported by the Townsville Bulletin, recognises the extraordinary achievements made by members of the community. The vibrant Townsville woman, who is missing part of her left hand, is the latest nominee for the prestigious medal for her inspirational achievements and community contribution.

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The Cairns Post - 28.04.2009

Athletics North Queensland Development Officer Cameron Clayton has seen plenty of talented athletes in his travels, but he is excited about the untapped talent in the FNQ region.

 Clayton, who moved from Victoria to take up his Townsville-based ANQ role in February, is in Cairns this week to stir up interest in athletes and promote the Cairns Athletics Club’s Come and Try event on Friday night. The young man with a big athletics background said he was looking forward to watching the FNQ talent bloom. “In Victoria, there’s plenty of talented kids but their training is very regulated with club and squad training” he said/ “Here, there’s some amazing talent. There’s lots of potential to develop, it’s just a matter of getting enough passionate coaches to help teach.

Clayton said the Cairns club, together with its Tableland, Marlin Coast and Mulgrave counterparts, was already achieving some great results but hoped that Friday’s event would help lift the profile of athletics.

Townsville Bulletin - 28.01.2009

SIMON O'Regan had every reason to jump for joy on Saturday. The Townsville Road Runner not only came in second in the 4.4km run, but also won the best-dressed segment.

Townsville Sun Newspaper - 04.02.2009

Hollins smashed his personal best by 4.54 metres at the Queensland Open and U18 Track and Field Championships at Brisbane’s State Athletics Facility. The throw placed him second in the open category.  Hollins said his throw at the state championships last month put him in good stead for future events, and brought his ranking from 11 to three for open javelin throwers across the country.

Townsville Bulletin - 11.02.2009

TOWNSVILLE Paralympian Julie Smith has gained her first nomination for the Townsville Bulletin Sportstar of the Year award.

The sprinter was born with Poland Syndrome and is missing four fingers and the muscle in her chest and back. Smith's never-say-die attitude earned her a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games in the 200m sprint. She ran a time of 26.03secs in the single above or below the elbow amputee event. "It was such a close race. It was 0.7 seconds between me and second place and 0.02 seconds between me and fourth place," Smith said. A fourth place finish in the 100m final in Beijing left Smith disappointed. She said she missed the start. "I was a little bit disappointed in my time because the time I ran in the heat could have won me a silver medal in the final," Smith said. Smith is back in training and preparing for the London Games in 2012. "I know I can go faster and do better in four years," she said. Smith was one of 10 Townsville sports stars nominated for the award. The winner will be announced during a presentation dinner at Tony Ireland Stadium on February 21 and will receive airfares to the value of $2000 and a medallion.

TOWNSVILLE Paralympic medallist Julie Smith's dream of running the 400m at the London Games in 2012 has started with a bang.

The 26-year-old sprinter bagged gold in the 200m and bronze in the 400m at the Australian Athletics Championships in Brisbane recently. But as pleased as she was with the gold medal – her first at a senior event – the bronze gave Smith greater satisfaction. It was the first time she had run the distance since she was a teenager and hopes to add the event to her arsenal at the London Paralympic Games. At the Beijing Games last year, Smith claimed bronze in the 200m, but was edged out of the placings in the 100m.