Local Sprinters Set to Sizzle at Hunter Pure Performance Track Challenge

6 January 2020

Local Sprinters Set to Sizzle at Hunter Pure Performance Track Challenge

Four talented local sprinters are set to highlight the 2021 Hunter Pure Performance Track Challenge, being held this Saturday night in Newcastle.

The Novocastrian sprint force don’t require competition from Sydney as they provide lots of opposition amongst themselves. The athletes, who clash over 100m on Saturday night, are located either end of the Hunter with teenagers Summah Harrison, Grace Hewitt and Keira McGregor located in the north, and the fourth athlete Katie Smee in the south. Smee, 23, the current NSW 200m champion, is making a return to the sport, and her journey is covered in another feature article.

Extraordinary, the small coastal village of Corlette, population less than 5000, has produced two of the group – Summah Harrison and Grace Hewitt, while Keira McGregor lives just north in Hawks Nest. All three are under the coaching guidance of Gerrard Keating in Newcastle.

Dual bronze medallist at the 2019 Australian All Schools, Grace Hewitt (Port Stephens), 17, has this summer run lifetime bests in the 100m and 200m of 12.02 and 24.23.

“I was very happy with my PB’s as this year was challenging with training,” said Hewitt. “During the lockdown I was training with one of my squad members (Summah Harrison) at our local field. The training never really stopped but fluctuated as competitions were getting cancelled and we had nothing to work towards.”

Emerging this summer have been outstanding 14-year-olds Summah Harrison (Port Stephens) and Keira McGregor (Macq Hunter). Both competed at the 2020 NSW All Schools in December, and on paper were expected to be outside the medals in the 14-years 100m, as the race had a strong line up including national champions Delta Amidzpvski and Damita Betham, along with new star Tuliana Kabuyawa who while aged 13 in October had clocked 12.07.

But the pre-race credentials of the opposition didn’t phase Harrison and McGregor who went 1-2 in the race, clocking quick times of 12.05 and 12.11 in the 14-years 100m.

“It did come as a bit of a shock to win All School’s as I was aware of the talent and experience in the race,” reflected Summah Harrison. “I had been training hard with my coach, Gerrard Keating, who was confident in my ability to perform.”

Similarly, silver medallist in the 14-years 100m, Keira McGregor, was aware of the high standard in the age division.

“My age group is a very tough one with a large number of girls with very similar personal best times, so I was very pleased with my performance and extremely happy to gain second place in a very close finish with a personal best time.”

McGregor does a lot of travelling from Hawks Nest to Newcastle, so appreciated the local competition this weekend.

“It is so good to have the Hunter Track Challenge in Newcastle and not have to travel to Sydney every time for competition. I’m so looking forward to next weekend for the latest one.”

GRACE HEWITT

A regular finalist at state level since she started athletics aged eight, Hewitt has make good recent improvement under Newcastle coach Gerrard Keating.

Additionally, despite residing in Corlette, a town of just 5000, it has been fortunate for Hewitt to have a talented training partner, Summah Harrison, to train with.

“I’ve always known Summah and her family as I used to play in her older sisters soccer team. She is still very new to athletics, as she’s a gun oztag player. She’s an amazing sprinter with a lot of potential, and I’m so proud of how far she’s come in such little time. She’s also a great personality and fun to train with.”

Putting 2020 behind her, Hewitt is looking forward to 2021.
“I completed year 11 in 2020 and am now heading into 2021 ready to do my HSC along with reaching some goals I have in athletics.”
 

SUMMAH HARRISON

Summah is very new to athletics and has never competed in Little Athletics.

“I have always enjoyed running, but, I have only been involved in athletics for just over 12 months, I started training with Gerrard Keating in November 2019. Prior to that I have only participated in school athletics carnivals, going to zone and regional and then CHS.

“In 2019 I won a silver medal in the CHS 100m final, I hadn’t even used blocks until this competition. I didn’t run at the 2019 All Schools event as I wasn’t aware this event even existed as I was so new to the sport.”

Her recent progression has been helped by formal training.

“I had people telling me I should look into a coach as they saw I had some athletic ability. On recommendation we approached Gerrard Keating who was more than happy for me to join his squad.”

Harrison is really enjoying her short time in athletics.

“I absolutely love training with the squad as they are very supportive, and I’ve made wonderful friends. I train in Newcastle 3-4 times a week and am loving being a part of the athletics community. I also play Oztag for Port Stephens and have played State Cup and Nationals since I was an 8-year-old. I have also played soccer for Nelson Bay. I love playing a sport where I can run.”

After a strong first year in athletics, Harrison has set some goals for 2021.

“This summer I want to continue to run my best and to better my 100m time, I would love to run under 12 seconds. I want to be the best I can be in athletics and go as far as I can in the sport. I am still learning a lot about athletics and I look forward to the challenges ahead.”

KEIRA MCGREGOR

Placing a close second to Harrison, was Indonesian-born Keira McGregor, who also lives just north of the Hunter. She has been competing in athletics since she arrived in Australia.

“I came with my parents to reside in Australia when 5-years-old. I joined Little Athletics almost immediately and have been competing with them ever since,” said McGregor.

“I love keeping fit and healthy and training for athletics has been fantastic for me. I unfortunately had a stress fracture in my back and was out of action for over nine months. I am now fine and back in training with "master coach" Gerrard Keating.”

While many people have been living more at home, McGregor has still had to travel to train for her sport.

“My biggest problem I face is heaps of travel from remote Hawks Nest, where we live, to training four days a week in Newcastle. It has been very difficult during this Covid pandemic but we have managed and hopefully 2021 will be much better.”

She is also waiting for our international borders to come down.

“As a dual citizenship with Indonesia, they are keen for me to come and compete in their Nationals, but this will not happen for quite some time with present COVID restrictions!”

Read a Katie Smee feature article on Friday.

EVENT PROFILE

What: Hunter Pure performance Track Challenge

When: Saturday 9 January 2021

Where: Fearnley Dawes Athletic Centre, 120 Smith St, Newcastle West

Time: 3.00pm pre-program, 6.00pm main program

Details: final timetable, entries and more information https://www.nswathletics.org.au/events/83026/

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Images: 14-years 100m final NSW All Schools - Summah Harrison, far left and Keira McGregor, far right. (inage courtesy of David Tarbotton)