Despite being our smallest Country team in this writer’s 20 year history with the Club, the efforts were enormous and the rewards high. Nowra had just 12 athletes representing the black and gold, plus 4 junior athletes competing for their respective little athletics clubs. Dubbo turned on the heat with 40 degree days and strong winds, creating trying conditions, but the athletes showed outstanding resilience and determination throughout the championships.
Evie Binney had an exceptional meet, bagging 5 medals and setting a new Country Championships record. Evie claimed victories in the 16 years 400m in 1.02.76 and the 400m hurdles in 1.11.53 – a tremendous effort with less than 9 seconds difference between the two race times. In the 2000m steeplechase, Evie produced a strong run to win in a record time of 7.44.24, slicing 4 seconds off the previous record of 7.48.31. She also added 2 silver medals to her haul in the 800m (2.28.38) and 1500m (5.13.50).
Isla Bailie enjoyed a fantastic competition, taking home a medal in every colour. Isla won heat 2 of the girls 14 years 100m in 12.80, the fastest time from a field of 16. In the final, Isla secured the gold medal, running the exact same time and defeating second place Charlotte James from Eastlakes Athletics Centre by 0.26 seconds (13.06) and third place Elwyn Evans from Orange Little Athletics Centre by 0.31 seconds (13.11). Isla also claimed silver in the long jump with a leap of 4.61m. In the 200m, she earned bronze after qualifying for the final in 27.10 and improving to 26.68 for 3rd place. Isla finished 5th in the 400m with a time of 1.04.85.
Atlas Bailie, although competing in the Shoalhaven Little Athletics uniform, proudly told anyone who would listen that he was really a Nowra Athletics Club member. Atlas collected 2 bronze medals, placing 3rd in the 11 years 1500m with a time of 5.52.55 and 3rd in the long jump with 3.36m, edging out club teammate Braxton Naylor by just 2cm. Atlas also finished 5th in the 800m in 2.57.87.
Kadance Naylor became a back to back champion in javelin, taking gold in the 17 years event with a throw of 35.98m. Kadance also claimed gold in shot put with 10.61m, silver in hammer with a new PB of 22.43m, and another silver in discus with 26.70m. On the track, Kadance finished 7th in the 100m in 14.40.
Braxton Naylor, representing St Georges Basin Little Athletics Centre, won silver in the 11 years shot put with 8.52m and bronze in discus with 28.04m. He narrowly missed the podium in the long jump, finishing 4th with 3.34m, just behind teammate Atlas Bailie (3.36m). In the 100m, Braxton ran a new PB of 16.14 to place 6th.
Another St Georges Basin Little Athletics representative was Declan Bennett. Declan secured silver in the 12 years 1500m walk with a time of 11.05.41. From a field of 11 athletes, Declan placed 6th in the 800m in 2.43.13 and finished just outside the medals in the 1500m, taking 4th in 5.27.18. In the javelin, Declan placed 7th with a throw of 14.78m.
Ellie Cooper earned a bronze medal in the 17 years javelin with a throw of 25.43m. Ellie also placed 4th in discus (22.49m) and 5th in shot put (8.47m).
Macca Davis recorded 2 strong runs, placing 6th in the highly contested 14 years 800m in 2.21.18 and 11th in the 1500m in 5.02.46, from a field of 17 athletes in each event.
Emily McLaren achieved the national qualifying time in the under 20 400m hurdles, clocking 1.11.11 for the win. Emily also took victory and a national qualifier in the 3000m steeplechase in 12.45.25, and finished 3rd in javelin with a throw of 23.41m. In the long jump, Emily placed 5th with 4.34m.
Hamish McLaren collected a medal in each colour, winning gold in the under 20 3000m steeplechase in 10.48.47, silver in javelin with 42.32m, and bronze in discus with 26.64m.
Emerson Boatswain, competing in her Shoalhaven Little Athletics uniform, took on a demanding program. Emerson won gold in the 14 years 2000m steeplechase in 8.18.75 and bronze in the 3000m in 12.57.43. She finished 4th in the 200m hurdles in 36.63 and 5th in the 1500m in 5.36.99. In the throwing events, Emerson placed 5th in javelin (25.53m), 7th in hammer (12.88m), and 10th in discus (19.97m) from large fields.
Our masters athletes were outstanding throughout the championships. Matt Reid made a welcome return to competition, claiming an impressive 5 medals from 5 events. Matt won gold in the 30-39 years 400m in 59.52, well ahead of second place Matthew Cooke from Dubbo (1.03.69). He added silver medals in the 1500m (4.53.64) and 5000m (18.38.38), and bronze medals in the 100m (13.13) and 800m (2.21.99).
Loretta Norris had a perfect meet, taking 3 medals from 3 events. Loretta won the 40-49 years 800m in 2.37.31, well clear of second place Nerissa Jacoby from Mingara (2.51.52). She also claimed gold in the 400m in 1.05.37 ahead of hometown athlete Dash Newington (1.08.17), and silver in the 200m in 30.45.
Lauren Naylor secured gold in the 40-49 years shot put from a strong field of 9 with a new PB of 8.89m, narrowly defeating Hilary Kennedy from Singleton (8.82m). Lauren also claimed gold in javelin with 25.79m, again finishing ahead of Hilary Kennedy (25.04m). She placed 6th in both discus (20.51m) and hammer (18.84m).
Gavin Dyball produced solid performances on the track, finishing 2nd in the 50-59 years 1500m in 5.15.97 behind Greg Newton from Kotara South Athletics Club (5.12.04) and well ahead of David Comer from Athletics Wollongong (5.22.18). Gavin followed this with another strong run in the 800m, finishing 2nd in 2.35.73 after an exciting sprint finish, just behind Anthony Howlett from Athletics Wollongong (2.35.54) and ahead of David Comer (2.36.09).
Anne Boatswain had a demanding schedule similar to her daughter Emerson, contesting 8 events and rising to the challenge with an outstanding 7 medal haul. In the field, Anne won gold in the 50-59 years shot put with 9.77m, silver in javelin with 22.08m, and bronze in discus with 24.74m. She added 3 silver medals in the jumps, placing 2nd in triple jump (6.59m), long jump (3.06m), and high jump (1.10m). On the track, Anne became the 50-59 years 100m champion with a time of 19.42, finishing ahead of Martina Hosken from Cardiff and District Little Athletics Club (21.58). Anne also placed 4th in the hammer throw with 23.32m.
With outstanding performances across the board and athletes stepping up in challenging conditions, the 2026 Country Championships proved that size is no barrier to success. The results achieved in Dubbo are a testament to the dedication of our athletes and support teams and provide strong momentum as the season continues.
