2022 NSW Masters Championships were held at SOPAC warm up track over the weekend of 11-13 March. Nowra Athletics Club was represented by three athletes and all three brought home a swag of medals!
Erin Smart contested 5 events and took home gold in all 5 races! In the 35-39 age sprints, Erin won the 60m in 8.49 and the 100m in 13.06. Then in the 200m, she took line honours in 26.57 whilst in the 400m she crossed first in 58.99. Journalist and photographer, David Tarbotton was certainly impressed with Erin’s 800m run, claiming it was “one of the most exciting races of the weekend”. Despite the age ranges on the track, it was a very close and high quality race amongst the seven competitors. They all crossed the line within seven seconds of each other in times from 2:28 to 2:35 with our Erin being the fastest, clocking 2:28.73.
“That race nearly killed me, recalled Erin Smart. “The plan was to sit behind and save myself for the 200m later. But one of the girls went out pretty hard and I thought I don’t know her and what age division she is in. So that threw me a bit and I had to pick up the pace. Then I heard the pack getting closer. Lucky, I had a kick at the end to hold on for the win.”
In the throwing arena our superstar thrower Kerrie Jones won bronze in all five of her events in the 65-69 years group. Kerrie’s highlight was the weight throw (5.45kg) event , earning a PB in the first round with 9.05m. She said “breaking 9 metres in a State Championship was an amazing feeling”. In the hammer Kerrie was also pleased with her consistency landing 21.11m for her biggest throw. In shot put Kerrie was 3rd with 6.30m whilst in discus Kerrie was again 3rd with a throw of 16.44m. In javelin Kerrie speared 12.87m for another bronze medal.
Matt Reid also added more medals to his growing collection earning a bronze medal in the 30-34 years 60m in a time of 7.85 and then another bronze in the 200m with 3rd place in 25.08. Matt speared a silver medal in javelin with 38.96m and Matt was also 4th in the 100m in 12.26.
Congratulations to these three amazing athletes.
