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Co-captains ignite the Spark's charge
The Australian Spark’s inaugural leadership
group was formally introduced to athletes and supporters at
yesterday’s official team lunch, where co-captains Steve
Solomon and Kim Mulhall spoke on behalf
of the 36 athletes all set to line up at this week's 13th IAAF
world junior championships.
Forty-eight hours out from the opening ceremony of the worldwide
titles in Moncton, Canada, Australia’s top track and field juniors
are hard at work finalising their preparations for the meet and
getting ready for their turn on the world stage.
At yesterday’s lunch, co-captains Steve Solomon (4x400m relay) and
Kim Mulhall (shot put, discus throw) spoke on behalf of fellow
captains Regan Lamble (10,000m walk),
Brooke Stratton (long jump), Sam
Baines (110m hurdles), Brett Robinson
(1500m) and the leadership group’s Australian Spark teammates, who
will take on the world in Moncton from Monday, July 19.
Below, Steve and Kim share with the team their thoughts and
inspiration as the clock counts down to the Australian Spark's
charge at the 2010 world junior championships.
“It’s so great to see the foundation blocks of the sport’s athletes
here today and I have no doubt that your mere presence will
encourage and inspire great performances from the athletes at the
upcoming world junior championships.
“The fact that we are halfway across the world and as a team ready
to compete on the world stage in a physical and mental condition
that goes beyond words is a real testament to the support group
that we have with us in the coaches and staff. Of course, leading
this group is the one and only Sara
Mulkearns.
“Sara is the team leader and together with the team manager
Jodi (Lambert) and assistant team
manager Leanne (Smith), has put
in countless hours of work to ensure we compete at our best at the
upcoming championships.
“Working alongside Sara, Jodi and Leanne we have a number of
hard-working staff and on behalf of the team I’d like to thank
Sandro (Bisetto – jumps/hurdles),
Brad (Carter – sprints/relays),
Terri (Cater – sprints/relays),
Nicky (Frey – distance),
John (Minns – throws),
Brent (Vallance – walks),
Dan (Bates – medical),
Merryn (Aldridge –
physiotherapist), Ben (Liddy –
physiotherapist) and Erin (Carter
– media) for all your support and we hope to reward you in the
upcoming week.
“Also a massive thank you to Rosie Ditton, who
couldn’t be here today. Rosie has put in countless hours of work
and has been emailing us all and without her things wouldn’t be
running as smoothly as they are today.
“Now to parents and friends. You really are
the base of an athlete’s support and we thank you for aiding our
every step, first in making the team and then in preparing us for
these championships. We would like to thank you for the many
courtesies that we often take for granted such as the lifts to
training and doing our washing. It may come as a surprise to you
that many of the men gathered in the laundry of our accommodation
in Vancouver last week staring clueless at the washing machine and
if it wasn’t for the help of a few females, we’d be a much more
odorous bunch here today.
“Also thank you for the warm, loving and caring nature that I’m
sure you all possess. As an athlete there are always hard times and
in the sport of athletics that can often be lonely but your
constant support helps us athletes through the day.“
Steve Solomon (4x400m relay)
Co-captain
“I’d like to thank the Australian Sports Commission, which helped
to fund all the athletes that are here. It would be very difficult
to have such a big team here without their support and we were very
lucky this year to be able to spend a week in Vancouver at the
beginning of our trip, which I think will prove to be very
beneficial to us all next week. Thanks also to Asics for our
uniforms that really make us stand out amongst the other teams, and
2XU who provided us with all our compression gear.
"Also a thankyou to Jim, our attaché in Moncton who has
already been a great help over the last couple of days by showing
us around and helping us out with everything.
“It really is a great honour to be part of the Australia Spark
team, to be able to represent our country at such a young age is a
great stepping stone to hopefully one day representing the Flame or
another senior team. I think one of the great parts of this trip is
being able to be a part of a team. Athletics is such an individual
sport but all coming together and working together as a team is
really fun and exciting and we’re all really supportive of each
other so without the whole team getting together we wouldn’t be
able to have great results.
“I don’t really believe in good luck and I
don’t like saying good luck but I do want to wish everyone all the
best and I hope everyone achieves their dreams on this trip. I hope
we see lots of PBs and top-eights and it just comes down to who’s
prepared well enough now, both mentally and physically.
“I hope everyone finishes their competition with a big smile on
their face and as Sara said, not everyone will have the best meet
of their lives and for those of you who don’t do so well, use it as
a learning experience. A lot of you have a second chance at world
juniors in two years' time and even world youth next year but
if not, build towards a senior team as I’m sure that we can all
make it there one day.
“All the best to everyone and don’t leave anything on the track –
do your best, try your hardest and put everything into the
competition.
“Don’t come away having any regrets."
Kim Mulhall (shot put, discus throw)
Co-captain
Photo courtesy of Brent Vallance
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