LITTLE BIG SHOTS
ABOUT half a dozen state records were broken and possibly twice that many lifelong friendships made at a Tasmanian Little Athletics competition held yesterday. Sophie Lithgow was among the competitors, shown here making the high jump look like child’s play.
ABOUT half a dozen state records were broken and possibly twice that many lifelong friendships made at a Tasmanian Little Athletics competition held yesterday.
Day two of the state-wide meet for young athletes saw more than 250 competitors – aged from 9 to 15 – take to the field in a multi-event championship for district clubs from Huon Valley in the south to Burnie in the state’s NorthWest.
Hobart’s Queens Domain played host to track and field sessions in javelin, discus, shot put, long jump, hurdles, high jump, and 100m and 800m running.
“It’s really a miniature version of the decathlon at the Olympics, but with five or seven events instead of 10,” said Little Athletics Tasmania president Brett Johnstone.
“The weekend went really well. We had about half a dozen state records broken and the weather was fantastic.
“There was some really good performances from all the athletes. But it’s about more than what you get on the stopwatch.”
Mr Johnstone said a case in point was on Sunday when a competitor took a tumble over the hurdles and was helped up by a rival.
“When the athlete fell over, someone else in the race just stopped and went over to help.
“That’s just the type of competition this is,” he said.
Under 14 Huon Valley competitor Lauren Shelton couldn’t agree more.
The vice-captain for the Tasmanian championship squad says it’s as much the friendships as it is the rivalry that keeps her coming back to compete.
“I’ve been doing this since I was in the under-8 team, and at every state meet I see fam
iliar faces. I may not see them often but I always know they will be happy to chat with me,” she said.
“It’s about the friendships. And if one event doesn’t go well, you’ve got everyone backing you up and encouraging you for the next one.
“I think all of the athletes did well and they should be proud,” she said.
The competition hosts two divisions, an under 9-12, with entrants facing off over five predetermined disciplines; and an under 13-15, with a more challenging effort over seven disciplines.
Winners are determined by the overall points scored, tallied across each of the events.
“It’s possible you may not get a place in an event, but your final score could see you take out a win,” Mr Johnstone said. “Little Athletics has produced some of Tasmania’s finest sportspeople, such as AFL’s Jack Riewoldt.
“History has proven that the best athletes are not necessarily the ones coming in first at this age group. They may be coming in fifth or sixth, but talent-wise they come true later.”
While the day may not have produced a personal best for Kingborough middle-distance runner Matilda NichollsHowe, the under-14s athlete didn’t seem to mind at all.
“I think I went OK. I didn’t get any PBs, but I really enjoyed the competition and that’s more important,” Matilda said.
“I like that anyone can do athletics. It can be a team thing, but it’s also an enjoyable sport that anyone can be a part of because it’s accepting of everyone regardless of ability.”
Upcoming Little Athletics Tasmania events include the state relays on February 9 in Hobart, and the individual championships held in March in Launceston.