NSW athletes competing across the globe: Mt Stromlo – Canberra – Glasgow – Homebush - Taicang

4 March 2024

NSW athletes competing across the globe: Mt Stromlo – Canberra – Glasgow – Homebush - Taicang

NSW Master Championships, Homebush

The NSW Masters Championships continues to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere as more and more join the ranks. Over 400 athletes competed during the two-day championships on the weekend. Two athletes spoke about their pathway into Masters competition - Sukhvir Kaur and Georgia Swanson.

Sukhvir Kaur was encouraged by a family member to start Masters athletics.

“My uncle competed in Masters Games and introduced me to the people in Masters Athletics,” recalled Sukhvir.

“Initially I was competing in heptathlon, but Maria (Cimino) and Jill (Taylor), encouraged me to do other events. I slowly got into shot put and javelin.” Sukhvir has since graduated to the hammer throw and it yield her best result on the weekend. She won bronze medals in the Hammer Throw and Weight Throw events and was fourth in the javelin and sixth in the discus.

“When I started hammer throwing, I didn’t know I could do that. A friend of mine, who did hammer back in India, gave me some tips. Then Maria encouraged me to train with her under coach Peter Farmer. Maria remains my inspiration along with my uncle who introduced me to Masters athletics.

“I really like the atmosphere in Masters athletics. It is motivational and helps with something to do and to achieve.”

Sukhvir really enjoyed today’s competition.

“Today’s event was brilliant. I was improving and the other girls were improving too, as the competition progressed. In a good competition you can adapt and learn.

“At the moment my best and favourite event is the hammer throw. I am hoping to go to World Masters in August.

In her very first competition after resuming athletics, Georgia Swanson coasted to wins in the 30-years 400m, 800m and long jump events.

“I was happy with today’s 800m race as I wasn’t going for time considering it was a strategic win. I have a few more competitions ahead.”

Georgia will race over 400m at Blacktown on Thursday and in the 800m at the NSW Open Champions the week after.

“I’ve just re-joined athletics and this is my first comp. I was running 15 years ago as Georgia Edis.”

She competed at the Pacific School Games in the era of Katrina Hunt, Emily and Libby Augustine and Anneliese Rubie.

“I stopped at 17. I wanted to experience life, rather than be a fulltime athlete which my coach wanted. I’ve just turned 30 so feel I can give the open age a crack.”

Why did she resume her athletics?

“I had that itch for the sport and always missed it.”
Last year she started a search for a coach.

“I found an amazing squad and coach Tony Morphis. So, I’ve been training with him since the end of last year.”

World Indoor Championships, Glasgow

Two NSW were in action with Nicola Olyslagers magnificent with a win in the high jump. She became just the seventh Australian World Indoor champion. She below what Nicola said about her win and read a full story is on our website.

Jessica Hull was brilliant in a very high-quality women’s 3000m. Always in the mix for medals throughout the race, she finished fourth in yet another Australian record time of 8:24.39. It lowered her own Indoor and Outdoor National records and were her 17th and 18th Australian records.

What Nicola said about her win:

"I felt today was going to be a big challenge because I hadn't competed indoors since 2017. I came here today because I knew I had to get outside my comfort zone, outside of Australia. With that mindset and the track being so fast, I had to fight for every jump. Then the bar went up to 1.99 and I remembered I had jumped the same height on a cold, windy night in Melbourne two weeks ago. I had a slight doubt that if I ran too fast I might get injured but I recognised that it's just fear. I know that the love of God can destroy fear so I said, I need your love right now and I jumped, and I was smiling, and the next thing you know it was a 10 out 10 jump. The goal today wasn't to win, it was to jump high and I just happened to get the title out of it."

World Cross Country Trials, Mt Stromlo

Canberra-based physio Paige Campbell was outstanding in the World Cross Country trial held at one of her regular training venues - Mt Stromlo on Friday evening. She and her 2019 World XC teammate, Victorian Melissa Duncan, battled out the race, with Paige first in 35:22, 10 seconds ahead of Melissa who clocked 35:32. Abi Nordberg has thrown he hat in the ring for world cross selection with a strong fifth place in 36:45.

In the men’s race Melbourne-based form Randwick-Botany athlete Zach Facioni was third in 30:12 – just eight seconds behind the winner. NSW have a couple of selection prospects in Josh Phillips (6th, in 30:47) and Ed Goddard (8th, with 30:53).

World Athletics Race Walking Tour race, Taicang in China

Selection for two National team, including the Olympics, were on the line for Aussies at the World Athletics Race Walking Tour race in Taicang in China on Sunday. Behind an array of brilliant Australian performances, NSW’s Carl Gibbons clocked 1:23:20 in the 20km walk – a 3:05 minute personal best, moving him from #33 to #19 Australian all-time. His training partner Jack Mcginiskin clocked 1:27:57 – a 4:08 minute PB, while Dylan Richardson clocked 1:27:59, after a two-minute pit lane stop. In the women’s Hannah Mison recorded a six seconds PB time of 1:35.21 and Lizzy McMillan clocked 1:37.40.

Chemist Warehouse Canberra Track Classic

The third stop on the Chemist Warehouse Continental Tour was in Canberra on Saturday night.

There were many highlights for NSW but two rising stars stamped themselves as National leaders in their events.

In the 400m, current National champion Luke van Ratingen, won running 45.57 - the fastest time by an Aussie at home for two years. He could be part of an Australian team to qualify for the Olympics, that is if he can’t qualify individually.

UTS Norths hurdler Tom Hunt has stamped himself as favourite for the National 400m hurdles title, clocking a PB 50.33 to become the 25th fastest in Australian history.

In the steeplechase it was a second consecutive win for Ed Trippas, accumulating good points for a tilt at Olympic selection. In her first hurdles of the year, Sarah Carli ran 55.37 – a time only she and four others Aussie have run.

Newcastle teenager Jemma Pollard continues to progress, and has now taken over a second from her 400m PB in two races, now down to 52.97 seconds and the 15th fastest in Australian history.

World Juniors 800m semi-finalists Luke Boyes clocked his fourth consecutive 1:46 in a month, again lowering his PB, now down to 1:46.15. Juniors Tayissa Buchanan (800m, 2:07.34) and Delta Amidzovski (100m hurdles, 13.51) clocked World U20 Championships qualifiers.
 

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Sukhvir Kaur in the Masters hammer throw (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)