12.06.2009

Six future stars walk away with '09 honours

Six emerging athletes have been named as recipients of the Alf Robinson Memorial Race Walking Foundation awards for 2009.

World University Games representatives Jillian Hosking (ACT) and Ian Rayson (NSW), and world youth championships athletes Dane Bird-Smith (QLD), Sean Fitzsimons (WA), Paige Hooper (SA) and Shannon Jennings (NSW) were this week announced as winners of the annual awards. 

Established in 1977 following the death of former Racewalking Australia President Alf Robinson, the Foundation serves as a developmental fund for the benefit of Australia’s most promising junior walkers and those open-aged walkers under 25 years of age who show the potential to achieve on the international stage.

The funds within this Foundation are held in trust by Athletics Australia and a Board of Trustees, made up of representatives of Athletics Australia and Racewalking Australia.

The Alf Robinson Memorial Race Walking Foundation and Athletics Australia congratulate the following award recipients for 2009:

Jillian Hosking, ACT

Hosking’s 2009 campaign got off to great start, the ACT athlete placing second in the women’s 20km walk at the Australian Summer Road Walking Championships in Melbourne where she crossed the line in the world championships B-qualifying time of 1:37.36.  

Her flying start to the year follows on from a successful 2008 that saw her place sixth over 20km at the 2008 Road Walking Championships in December in a time of 1:40.03, and take out the 2008 Australian Race Walking Federation 10km Winter Championships in August, winning the event in a time of 48:47.

In July Hosking will contest the 20km walk at the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia.

Ian Rayson, NSW

Rayson, also bound for the World University Games in Belgrade in July, placed seventh in the 20km walk at the national championships last year, crossing the line in a time of 1:31.16. The New South Welshman finished second at the Under 23 national titles and, following wins at the NSW state championships over 10km, 20km and 30km, was named NSW Open Distance Walker of the Year.

In 2009 Rayson placed second in the Australian Winter Road Walk Championships, finishing in a time of 1:29:27, and first at the state open 5000m walk titles in 20:27.14.

In February he finished sixth at the Sydney Track Classic in the 5000m walk (20:36) and placed seventh at the national 20km walk championships (first at Under 23 level in a time of 1:27:43). In April Rayson competed in the IAAF Race Walking Challenge event in Wuxi, China, placing 32nd out of 60 in a personal best time of 1:27:29.

In 2006 Rayson attended the World Race Walking Cup in Spain, competing in the junior 10km walk (DQ).

Dane Bird Smith, QLD

The reigning Under 20 national 10km track walking champion and Queensland 5km walks champion, Bird-Smith is an exciting arrival on the junior race walking scene.

In 2008 he was crowned Under 18 All Schools 5km national champion and in 2007 was named Under 16 All Schools 3km national champion.

At just 16 years of age, Bird-Smith is the number one ranked junior athlete in the country over 3km, 5km and 10km. In addition, he was a member of the All Schools 4x400m national championship-winning relay team in 2008.

Following his win in the 5km walk at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney in February, Bird-Smith will contest the 10,000m walk at the world youth championships in Bressanone, Italy, in July.

Sean Fitzsimons, WA

Also en route to Bressanone for the 6th IAAF world youth championships, Fitzsimons placed third at the Under 20/23 national championships in April in a time of 45:29.87 and is one to watch at this year’s world youth event.

Paige Hooper, SA

The current Under 18 national champion in the 5000m walk and Under 20 national champion in the 10,000m walk, Hooper is a star on the rise.

In 2007 she finished fourth in the 5000m walk at the 5th IAAF world youth championships, crossing the line in a personal best time of 22.57.

Selected to her second world youth championships team for the sixth edition of the meet in Bressanone, Italy, in July, Hooper is every chance to go one better in 2009 and score a coveted podium finish.

A keen sportsperson, Hooper also boasts a black belt in karate and plays basketball.

Shannon Jennings, NSW

Jennings finished first in the Under 16 category at the Australian Road Walking Championships in August last year and has continued her good form through to 2009, winning the Under 20 NSW title and finishing fifth in the open category over 5000m.

Jennings was named NSWIS Junior Walker of the Year for the 2008/09 season, a year that saw the young athlete produce seven world youth qualifying times.

Jennings is a member of Athletics Australia’s National Under 17 Development Squad for 2009.