03.07.2008

Athletics for the Outback go bare foot in Normanton

Athletics for the Outback program once again received a warm welcome from the Normanton State School and many excited students.  The program, in its fourth consecutive year, returned to Far North Queensland to continue athletics education in the region.  This year’s visit attracted schools from location from the Gulf of Carpentaria; including Normanton, Karumba and Mornington Island. 

Each year Athletics for the Outback aims to offer different aspects of athletics to remote communities, designed to assist them in organising and conducting athletics carnivals and coaching to students throughout the year. This year’s focus was on officiating and Athletics for the Outback where pleased to have Donald Brown on tour to present the level 1 officials course to a large number of eager locals who then assisted in the two day carnival.

Sports Credentials coaches Ty Chapman, Peter Ulbrich, Antony Drinkwater- Newman and Andrew Ferris and Athletics North Queensland’s Development Manager, Melanie Juchima were on hand to offer some useful coaching tips over the two days leading up to the carnival.  Fifty-five bare foot athletes took to the grass track as part of the Gulf District Athletics Championships. 

A highlight of the carnival was the obstacle relay contested by three teams; one male, one female and the other a blend of coaches and teachers. A contentious victory went in favour of the more experienced of the three teams.

Many encouraging results came out from the carnival, with both the 100m and the high jump being hotly contested events. The next stage in competition for a select group of 19 athletes, who qualified to represent the Gulf Region, is to travel west of Cairns, to Longreach in August to compete at the Regional Sunset Carnival. Athletics Australia wishes them the best of luck and anticipates strong results from the talented youngsters.

Athletics Australia is proud to be a part of the Athletics for the Outback program, supported by the federal government.  National Talent Identification Assistant of Athletics Australia, Ben King said “ to witness first hand the excitement and enthusiasm of all athletes involved in the Gulf District Athletics Championships, supported by the communities, is most inspiring”.

For further information on the Athletics for the Outback program please contact:

Sally McGrady 03 9869 5013 or sally.mcgrady@athletics.org.au

Ben King 03 9869 5033 or ben.king@athletics.org.au.