NSW Team Managers Announced for Australian Championships

NSW Athletics is excited to announce its team managers taking our athletes to the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth and the Australian Little Athletics Championships in Adelaide from 4 April. 
 
The Australian Athletics Championships will be held from 4-13 April, encompassing the Juniors, Under-20, and Open competitions at WA Athletics Stadium in Perth, Western Australia. The Coles Australian Little Athletics Championships will take place from 25-27 April at SA Athletics Stadium in Adelaide, South Australia. 
 
NSW Athletics has expanded its pool of managers to enhance the athlete experience, introducing separate team management for each competition. This initiative aligns with the establishment of a Performance and Pathways Department and Centre of Excellence, which opened in early 2024 to support development pathways and excellence in athletics. 
 
Congratulations to the following team managers on their selection: 
 
The NSW Juniors state team will be managed by Kerry Smith, Greg Wiencke, and Caroline Bailey. Smith brings almost 20 years of experience, having been a team manager for both Athletics NSW and Little Athletics teams since 2006. Wiencke has contributed significantly to the Target Talent Program and LEAP programs, while Bailey, a performance psychologist and accomplished coach, has also recently been accepted into the Level 4 Coaching Program, commencing in 2025. 
 
The Opens and Under-20 teams will be led by Deb Walsham, Matt Horsnell, and Alec Diamond. All three managers have extensive experience on the international circuit. Walsham recently served as Manager at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima. Horsnell has coached athletes at the highest levels, including the Commonwealth Games, World University Games, and most notably, the Olympic Games, where Nicola Olyslagers won a silver medal in Paris. Diamond, a distinguished decathlete, brings firsthand experience in elite competitions as a finalist at the 2023 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. He has also recently joined the NSW Athletics Team as a Coach at the NSW Centre of Excellence. 
 
The Little Athletics Australian Team will be managed by Sharyn Dickson, Rebecca Newton, Matt Rawlings, Kerry Smith, Glenn Stephenson, and Daniel Warren. Dickson and Newton have extensive experience as team managers, having been part of the team for many years. Rawlings has significant expertise with Para-Athletes, serving as a coach and Para-Liaison Coordinator for NSW Athletics. Stephenson, a school principal, is dedicated to supporting young athletes’ well-being and fostering positive, respectful relationships. Warren, a high-level official, youth volunteer coordinator, and NSW Athletics team member, rounds out the management team for Adelaide. 
 
With this exceptional team of managers, NSW Athletics is poised to deliver a seamless and inspiring championship experience for its athletes.