18.03.2009

Coach of the Year too close to call

Athletics Australia is pleased to present the Coach of the Year awards for season 2008/09 together with the Athlete of the Year awards on Sunday, March 22 at Rydges Southbank, Brisbane.

The subject of fierce annual debate, there is little doubt coaches and athletics onlookers will again have their views on the most deserving winners of the Coach of the Year awards on the back of a hugely successful year.

The 2008/09 awards will feature a full list of worthy possibilities in both the Coach of the Year - Senior Athlete and Coach of the Year - Junior Athlete categories.

With Australia bringing home its best Olympic medal haul in 40 years, the winner of Coach of the Year - Senior Athlete will be a tough call.

Names to watch and their outstanding achievements in season 2008/09 include:

Sharon Hannan – QLD:
- Sally McLellan’s Olympic silver medal in the 100m hurdles

Brent Vallance – ACT:  
- Jared Tallent’s medal double in the 50km and 20km walks
- Coach of five athletes selected to the Olympic team, two of whom produced personal best times at the event

Alex Parnov – WA:
- Steve Hooker’s thrilling gold medal and Olympic record in Beijing
- Paul Burgess's selection to his third Olympic team

Iryna Dvoskina – ACT:
- Winner of the prestigious Australian Paralympic Committee – Coach of the Year award
- Multiple Paralympic gold medals
- Multiple world records

In the junior category, for coaches of athletes under 20 years of age, there are also a number of coaches worthy of consideration for the award.

Names that will no doubt be considered include:

Evan Peacock – TAS:
- Coach of sons Hamish and Huw, both winners of national age championships
- Hamish the number one ranked 19-year-old in the world in 2008, finishing fifth at the junior world championships

Matt Beckenham – ACT:
- Coach of junior world championship team members Melissa Breen and Brittney McGlone
- Brittney a member of the bronze medal-winning 4x400m relay team at the world junior event
- Five national age titles in total: Melissa Breen with the U20 100m and U18 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay; Brendan Matthews with the U17 400m; Catherine Wild Taylor with the U18 4x100m relay

Tudor Bidder – ACT:
- Two members of the junior world championship team, with both Kurt Mulcahy and Angie Blackburn finalists in the 400m
- Angie a member of the bronze medal-winning 4x400m relay team at the world junior event

Ian Hatfield – NSW:
- Coach of Ryan Gregson, junior world championship competitor in the 1500m and 5000m
- Gregson a finalist in the 1500m and set a new personal best time in the 5000m at the world junior event
- Gregson is holder of two U20 national records in the 1500m and 3000m and is national age champion in the same events

In a year that produced some wonderful results for athletics, both the Athlete and the Coach of the Year awards will be keenly anticipated.  

For more information on the Athlete of the Year awards and for tickets to the event, click here.