SA Masters Athletics Inc hosted the Australian Masters Athletics Championships for 2025 in Adelaide over Easter.
The event brought together athletes aged from 30 years old to participate in four days of athletic events covering all track and field events.
Nowra athlete Erin Smart travelled to Adelaide to compete in the 40-44 years track events and seized 4 gold medals and a bronze.
Starting on Friday 18th April, in the 60m Erin snared gold in 8.18 beating home the 2 Queensland athletes, Eliana Seymour and Natalie Hartmann who ran in equal 2nd in 8.44. This win came after Erin almost missed her race, arriving back late from the warm up track to find all the other athletes had already set up their blocks. Erin did well to recover from this timing mishap and despite having to run in her sunglasses, took her first win of the competition.
Erin then backed up in the 100m adding another gold to her bag with a time of 12.84. Second and third were the same Queensland athletes, however this time Natalie Hartmann took the silver medal in 13.30, just in front of Eliana Seymour in 13.31. Without much time to rest her legs, Erin ran the 800m, and took the bronze medal in 2.33.14 coming in behind Eloise Fisher from Tasmania who clocked 2.27.00 and Katie Martin from South Australia in 2.28.35.
On Saturday in the 200m, Erin once again took the win in 26.75 followed by Natalie Hartmann in 27.11 and Joanna Lodge from NSW in 28.13.
In Sunday’s 400m, Erin added her 4th gold medal to her collection, finishing in 59.57 which was the fastest time of the day. Joanna Lodge was 2nd in 1.04.22 and Katie Martin was 3rd in 1.05.47.
Erin remains undefeated over the sprint events, taking the National titles 4 years in succession now. What an amazing achievement!