WITH COVID-19 putting an early stop to athletics competitions in early March and a delayed start to the current season, there was a feeling of a return to some sort of normalcy with two recent NSW Championships.

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Usually held in September, the NSW All Schools Championships, for high school students aged from 12 to 19 years of age, is this year’s only state-wide junior athletics competition since COVID’s arrival.

This 4-day event at Homebush held differences from previous years which were obvious from the time the athletes and spectators (just 2 per athlete) scanned a QR code on entry to the stadium.

It was followed by the now accepted ritual of hand sanitiser stations; the athlete check-in room being limited to three male and three female athletes at a time, athletes social distancing during field events and preparing for track events, spectators required to remain seated during competition, food and refreshments only available for a specified time each day, competition merchandise only available online; and of course COVID-Safe Marshalls on duty.

These certainly changed the atmosphere in the usually crowded grandstand, but the quality of competition was still of a high standard and athletes from their various schools enjoyed being able to catch up with their many athletics friends.

Three Raymond Terrace Athletics Centre athletes who competed for their high schools all came home with personal best results. Some events had over 45 competitors.

Cody Hancock, 15 years, brought home two Silver medals in the Triple Jump with a 50cm personal best (PB) jump of 12.63m and Long Jump with a 20cm PB of 6.36m; and Bronze in Pole Vault with 2.3m at his first ever attempt in the event.

His other results were 100m Hurdles – 7th, Discus 10th, 100m – 20th (pb of 11.68 with the Gold medal winner finishing with 10.84).

Ebony Newton, 15 years, won Bronze in the 200m, finished 4th in the 100m with a PB and in the 16years 100m hurdles, also finished 4th.

Dixie Conlon, 14 years, results were 5th in Long Jump with a PB of 4.55m, 6th Triple Jump, 7th 80m Hurdles, 12th 100m with a PB of 13.89, 14th 200m with a PB of 29.10.

The second NSW Championship was the inaugural NSW Masters Indoor Championships held at Somersby, with the Weight Throw, Super Weight Throw and Shot Put events on display.

Talented Raymond Terrace Athletics Centre thrower Morgan Clifford recently contested these three events and came home with three Gold medals.

In the 40 years category, Morgan threw weights that most of us would struggle, or even find impossible, to pick up.

With a 7.26kg Shot Put, he reached a distance of 10.24m, in the 16kg Weight Throw, in the final of his 6 throws, he reached his best distance of 8.7m.

But his biggest challenge was the 25kg Super Weight Throw which he threw an amazing distance of 5.57m.

All of these athletes are to be congratulated for their determination, resilience and exceptional efforts!

By Deirdre HALL