Last Wednesday saw the start of the point scoring rounds for Nowra Athletics Track and Field. Although it was the start of the Summer Athletics Program, the weather was certainly not very Summer-like with a very cool breeze blowing, keeping temperatures very low.
However temperatures soon rose for those runners who kick-started the program with a 600m sprint. Stirling Norwood was the first boy across the finish line and Chelsea Pascoe was the first girl in the combined lower grades. In the mens 600m race Zac Havadjia took off like a shot and led all the way, crossing the finish line first. Zac was closely followed by Cameron Musgrove who pipped Leith Babian for second place, after passing him on the home straight.
In the 60 metres event Zac Havadjia again ran in first in the A-grade mens race, followed by Emerson Brian and Cameron Musgrove. These three boys then duplicated their placings in the 100m sprint.
In the A grade women 60metres Zoe Chater sprinted through for first place, followed by Sarah deVries and Tori Sayer. In the 100m Zoe again ran a solid race for first place with Sarah deVries second again and third was Jess O’Donnell.
Keeghan Norwood showed off his sprinting prowess taking line honours in both the boys B grade 60m and 100m. Alistair Clark proved that his sprint training throughout Winter has paid off, taking second place in both the 60m and 100m, while Cameron Bowers took 3rd in the 60m and Corey McConville finished 3rd in the 100m.
In the 1500m distance track event Liam Dooley ran at a consistent pace to beat his dad, Peter home, followed by veteran runner Cristine Suffolk.
In the field Nowra Athletics Club were fortunate to have the skills of enthusiastic Vincentia High teacher Felix Bachmann on hand for the night. Felix put half a dozen of the Club’s talented high jumpers through a skills development session . It was great to see Jordan deVries, Brock Nicholls ,Liam Dooley, Sarah deVries and Brin McKinnon and a few new faces doing quality work as they searched for personal bests. At the end of the session Brock cleared 1.65 m, proving that the skills practice and determination certainly reaped rewards.
There were good efforts throughout the evening in the throwing events too although wiley veteran Doug McNally reckons the weather was more suited to his rugby training than throwing the javelin.
Nowra Athletics meet each Wednesday evening at Ron Brown Sporting Oval. The Club is very family friendly and encourages all interested people to come along on Wednesday to see what it is all about. Events start at 6pm with Administration from 5.15pm. The events on offer this week will be 80m, 200m, 800m, and 2000m with long jump and discus for C,D, E grades and for A, B and Vets shot put, discus, high jump and triple jump.