Toowoomba athletes shine at junior titles
Hughes in double gold medal wins
ATHLETICS: Toowoomba’s Mason Hughes continued his “dream” rise in the national throwing ranks when he overcame atrocious weather conditions and the state’s best throwers to claim double gold at the Queensland Junior Athletics Championships.
Hughes capped a successful weekend for Toowoomba throwers with gold medal wins in the under-17 shot put and discus.
He then stepped up to contest the under 20 shot and discus and won silver in both events.
Joining Hughes on the medal podium was Fairholme Athletics Club competitor Conor McLoughlin who led in a Toowoomba one-two finish with his gold medal win over Hughes in the under-20 discus.
Hughes described the wet conditions that prevailed during Friday night’s shot put competition as the most “insane” he’d thrown in.
Hughes — who this month took out the Sport Darling Downs (SDD) Junior Chase Your Dream award — will now work with coach Justin Anlezark towards the end of the athletics’ club season and next month’s national junior championships in Sydney.
McLoughlin’s success also followed his Senior Chase Your Dream award win at the 2018 SDD presentation night.
McLoughlin’s sister Bella finished her marathon weekend of events with five medals in three different throwing disciplines.
She displayed her verstalility and endurace to win silver in the under-16 hammer along with bronze medals in both the under-16 discus and shot put.
McLoughlin then took on older rivals to win bronze medals in both the under-17 shot and discus with the under-17 hammer being the only event she failed to medal in.
Fairholme Athletics Club coach Grahame Pitt said Bella’s medal effort against an exceptional rival was just reward for her hard work.
“Bella is in an age-group where she is up against a rival who is absolutely outstanding — her distances you would say are at world level,” Pitt said.
“But Bella does the three events well and she can be pleased with her efforts at the championships.”
SDD Junior Sports Star Of The Year Ellie Bowyer added to Toowoomba’s medal haul with a silver performance in the under-20 javelin with a throw of 45.75 metres.
Lachlan Dolzan claimed a silver medal in under-17 hammer.
‘‘ SHE CAN BE WELL PLEASED WITH HER EFFORTS AT THE CHAMPIONSHPS. GRAHAME PITT