By Tara Murray
It was a strong performance from the Sunbury Little Athletics Centre at the regional championships, with 10 athletes qualifying for the state championships.
Sunbury had 19 athletes competing in 54 events at the North Metro Region Track and Field Championships at Keilor, with results exceeding expectations.
Sunbury won 15 medals and recorded 30 personal bests.
Sunbury vice-president Brooke Rennie said there were several impressive performances at the regional championships.
Oliver Smyth, competing at regional track and field championships for the first time, won silver in the under-11 javelin and bronze in the 80 metres hurdles, both in personal bests.
He qualified for the state championships in both those events.
Isabella Jordan, competing at regions for the first time since 2017, won gold in the under-15 girls 800 metres, her first medal at this level. She also has qualified for the state championships for the first time.
After breaking his ankle last season, Liam Denner qualified for the state titles for the first time.
Denner won bronze in the under-16 boys 800 metres and 1500 metres. Others to win medals were Riley Coughlan, gold in the under-13 1500 metre walk and 1500 metres, both personal bests.
Logan Carroll won gold in the under-14 boys discus and silver in the 400 metres.
Liam Joyce was the star of the day for Sunbury, winning four medals – two silver and two bronze – in the under-11 boys.
Tyson Moffat won gold in the under-16s 1500 metre walk in a personal best time and Emma Joyce won bronze in the under-14 girls high jump.
Carroll, Coughlan, Denner, Liam and Emma Joyce, Moffat, along with Georgia Stepanoski and Zachary Stevens will compete at the state titles.
Rennie said it is a good way to end what has been a good season.
“We kicked off the season by inviting a throws coach (Brett Hardeman), a middle distance coach (Mark Carey) and the seniors Keilor St Bernards athletics club to run skills clinics for our athletes and it was a great experience for our athletes to develop new techniques to improve their performance.
“Overall it had been great to see returning and new members striving for their best each week and that more and more parents are getting involved which creates a great, welcoming atmosphere for our kids to participate in sport.”
