From the Athletes - NSW Country Championships

Stephanie Auston (Newcastle Flyers)

Open Women’s 5000m – 17:51.30
Currently training for Western States 100 Miles

“I’ve been doing lots of [aerobic pace] kilometres and wanted to go under 19 minutes, so to go under 18 minutes was great.”

“I work in Maitland and train with the Newcastle Flyers. I’ve only come back recently and it’s been really nice to train with a group.”

“I just like to run and there hasn’t been any races in a while, and it was great to come out and race on the new track.”

“I think shorter stuff is harder mentally – it hurts a lot more – and I think it helps your all-around running. It’s nice to feel fast on the track too. As long as I’m running and not injured, I don’t mind running 1km or 160km!”

“Just before COVID I got my golden ticket [into Western States 100 Miles] in a 100km race in the U.S., and since then it’s been a waiting game. I’ll start my prep with Six Foot Track – I don’t really know how to prepare for something that long but I’ll just keep doing shorter races and hope for the best on the day.”

“I like 50km – I think I’ll only do one 100-miler and then reassess things. I like doing shorter stuff. But it’s cool to go there and be part of such an iconic event. After the Miler I’ll probably drop back in distance and do some track races. I’d love to get a little bit faster and keep up with the girls in training.”

“Newcastle is awesome for running, it’s known as the Region of Runners. There’s heaps of parkruns. There’s four different “trains” [groups] on Sunday with the Newcastle Flyers – there’s always someone to run with. I just moved back from the Sapphire Coast, and it’s been great to find my feet again with the group. Watch out for Jess Noble and Regina Jensen in Zatopek next week in their debuts, and I think they’ll go really well.”

Mitchell Lightfoot (Maitland Little Athletics & Senior Club)

U20 Men’s 110m Hurdles – 13.52 (+1.3)
PB, World Junior Qualifier, Country Best on Record, #4 Aus U20 All-Time
 

“I was speaking to my coach [Andy Burton] and the mindset was to keep on top like my previous races. It’s been going to plan so far.”

“We don’t talk about race times much, but my coach did say on or sub-13.50. We put that into practice [with today’s race] so I’m happy with that.”

“The mindset was to stay relaxed, don’t overthink it and do what I do.”

“At the moment I just want competition. The more times I race Tayleb [Willis], the better we’ll be, just to see each other more and have that rivalry moving forward. If I keep sticking to my training plan with my coach, and my gym sessions, it will get me there.”

“Andy’s great – everything you’d want. I moved to Andy recently, but didn’t get to see him for a while due to COVID restrictions – it was text and videos for a long time. I only see him once a week but it’s enough to work. We keep in contact nearly everyday. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Andy – I can’t thank him enough.”

“It’s great to have a meet really close to home. I’ve had a really big turnout with family and friends, and it was really good to have them cheer me on the sideline. To have a local meet and having younger kids getting an opportunity to run, and to see some older athletes run as well, it’s a really good time and a great environment.”

“I started athletics a little bit later – I did Tiny Tots and then played soccer & AFL for a number of years. I then came back to athletics at 12 years old and started to “ramp up” from then. I’ve always been into athletics and always liked it though, and the individual aspect of the sport – it’s all on me. But I also have a really good team backing me, and I know that if I put the work it, the results will come.”

“I’ve dealt with a couple of injuries in the past, which made me change my training and forced me to stop a couple of times before and during COVID. For Andy and my gym coach it’s been a quick turnaround to get me into this season, so after ACT Championships next weekend, it will be great to chill out for a bit and go back to the basics, build a really solid block, and then just work up from then. I can’t wait.”

Katie Gunn (Gosford Athletics Club)

U20 Women’s Long Jump – 6.21 (+0.9)
PB, World Junior Qualifier, Country Best on Record
 

Reaction after Tyler Gunn’s hamstring injury moments before opening her Long Jump Competition

“When I heard [Tyler] scream out, some nerves hit on how bad it was because I could hear how much pain he was in. But Mum was on the sidelines just saying “breathe, breathe”, and I knew that I was about to jump and I needed to focus on me. I thought “focus on your jump, get there, and you can worry about him afterwards – he has family around him and he’ll be fine. So it was about getting one jump out there, and do it for him, and show him. He’s pushed me a lot through my training and everything, because he knows I’ve had this qualifying jump in me for so long, so I went out there and thought I’ll do it for him and show him that I can do it. And I did!”

“Last year I missed the World Junior Qualifier by 2cm, and after two rounds I was only 1cm off it, but my last jump I thought “go for it, lose all the stress”. I knew I had it in me – my training jumps have been going great; 6.20+ metre jumps all the time. I did it, it connected, and it felt great.”

“Matt [Horsnell] is the best coach ever – it was so great having him right there. He’s put so much time and effort into his whole squad and training sessions, just getting us to be the best athletes we can be. Having him today watch it was really great, I loved it.”

“I’m jumping Friday night in the U20 ACT Championships, and then in the morning in the Open age group.”

“The next goal is to just better today’s jump even further. The World University Games Qualifier is 6.25m, and I think that’s the next goal – to get as many jumps over 6.20m as possible. I’m feeling stronger so I think this is going to be a good season.”
 

Additional Edit* (as of Tues, 25th Jan)

Ben James (Cessnock Athletics Club)

Open Men's Pole Vault Winner
Stories behind the Pole Vault at the Country Champs

"The pole equipment belongs to the Wallsend Athletic Club. The local council got in contact with the club because they heard that Wallsend was the only club to have mats available in the Hunter, Central coast and Newcastle area. It was made possible by a joint effort between council the athletics club and the athletes to move or the neccessary gear from Wallsend to Maitland."

"The council organised a removalist truck to pick the mats and uprights up from Wallsend and transport them to Maitland, with the supervison of the club. Then the athletes took cross bars, poles and measurement sticks to Maitland, and set up the equipment once arrived."

"Our coach, Peter Herd, trains athletes of all ages in pole vault. We have a wide range from 11yrs old to Masters that compete in pole vault. We have athletes travel 3+ hrs to come train with Peter."

"We had 6 of our athletes competing at Country Champs. All our athletes competed extremely well. We all medalled in our respective age groups and a few pbs were attempted and set."

Photos by James Constantine | Words from Athletes