BACK ON TRACK

Athletics club hopes for October return

ATHLETICS: Darling Downs Athletics Club was on track for a breakout 2020 season.

Keen to build on the success of its inaugural season, the club hit its 60-member target in

March.

“When we formed the club, we expected it to take a few seasons to really get going,” DDAC president Janine Ritter said.

“We’re pleasantly surprised when we hit our 60-member target in March this year at the end of the track and field season.

“We normally pick up a few more members when the cross country season starts up so to reach our goal before then was great.”

The COVID-19 pandemic however, bought the club’s momentum to a sudden halt.

“We’re in a state of flux right now,” Ritter said.

“The track and field season finished in March and the cross country season never started because of COVID-19.

“It’s a bit disappointing because we were really looking forward to a big second season.

“Right now the hardest thing is finding ways to keep everyone motivated as well as providing them with that sense of community and support.

“Our committee oversees the running of the club as a whole but a lot of the athletes and coaches train independently.

“A lot of them are struggling to find their feet among all this.

“The recent changes in restrictions are a positive though – hopefully things are back to normal by October when the track and field season starts again.”

It hasn’t all been hardship for the club though.

Amid the COVID-19 enforced shutdown the committee has found opportunity to strengthen the club.

“We’re in talks with Toowoomba Regional Council at the moment to determine exactly what we can do in regards to training because we use their facilities,” Ritter said.

“We’ve also applied for a TRC micro grant and a COVID SAFE and we hope to engage some specialists to give our coaches and athletes advice on things like nutrition and others areas like that.

“All of this has forced us to reassess the way we do things which isn’t a bad thing.

“Hopefully we can come out of this stronger and prepared for the future.”

Picture: Nev Madsen TRIPLE TREAT: Darling Downs Athletics Club members (from left) William Gilmore, Mason Hughes and Maccrae Laird with their medals from the Queensland Athletics Championships.

Picture: Contributed TOP COMPETITORS: Darling Downs Athletics Club representatives (from left) Casie Richards, Lucy Young and Alex Young.