Athletics North Queensland board has recently approved a change in logo and name for the existing ANQ Championships.
The new name ‘North Queensland Championships’ or ‘NQ Championships’ builds upon the organisations strategic vision to represent a modern, more creative, and appealing brand for our sport.
The logo design is comprised of two main elements: the ‘Athletics Track’, which replicates Athletics North Queensland logo and represents our sport moving forward, and; the ‘Athletes’ which showcases track and field element of the sport, recapping the proud athletics history of North Queenslanders, across the decades.
President, Yvonne Mullins has been there from day 1 and for her the new logo is a bringing together of our history,
“It has been a long journey for Athletics North Queensland from the 1990s when we first began and we are proud of the history that makes ANQ. Now is the time for us to look back at how our Championships have evolved over the years. The new logo acknowledges the continuing success of our Association and looks forward to our bright future.”
Each year, to recognise the proud history of these championships, we will be acknowledging North Queenslanders that competed at this event. For 2020 this includes:
Jarrod Bannister
The late Jarrod Bannister was a local Townsville boy, a member of North Star Athletic club, and was an outstanding talent in a number of sports in his youth. Ultimately, he was to dedicate his efforts to the Javelin where he competed at a World Class level for over ten years.
Jarrod’s mark of 89.02m is the current Oceania record in javelin, set in Brisbane in 2008.
In 2010 he won gold for his performance at the Delhi Commonwealth Games. It was the highlight of the many occasions that Bannister represented Australia which also included the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006 and Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, and the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.
Catherine Freeman
Catherine Freeman was born in Mackay and for many years represented Slade Point Athletics.
Her mother is of the Kuku Yalanji people of Far North Queensland and along with her grandmother was born in the Indigenous community of Palm Island. Her father was born in Woorabinda and is of the the Burri Gubba people of central Queensland. (Cathy Freeman Foundation)
In the early days, Catherine competed for Slade Point Athletics and took home many local and North Queensland trophies for the club. At 16 years of age, Cathy ran in the Commonwealth Games Selection Trials in Sydney in December 1989 and surprised everyone by tying Kath Sambell for third in the 100 metres in 11.42 and placing fifth in the 200 metres.
Carrying the weight of the nation on her shoulders, Catherine was awarded the honor of lighting flame at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney Olympics. Ten days later, in a packed stadium of over 112,000 people and wearing a now legendary full body suit she collected the ultimate prize. Taking the lead 75 metres from home Cathy Freeman held off her challengers to win Olympic gold by four metres in 49.11.
Brenton Foster
Is a local Townsville boy, a previous member of North Star Athletic club, had outstanding talent in a number of sports and athletics disciplines in his youth. His outstanding performances in High Jump has allowed him to compete on the world stage since 2015 and has great prospects to compete at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Brenton mark of 2.26m is highest mark that an North Queenslander has ever performed, and ranks him 2nd in Australia for this year. He is the only Junior athlete to received 2 ANQ Junior Athlete of the Year awards.
He is presently studying overseas at the University of Virginia – USA.
The new name and logo will be used in all publications from today onward.
