Athletics icons pass baton on elite track
ATHLETICS management on the Gold Coast has lost two of its biggest champions, with Sharon and Peter Hannan handing over rights of the Griffith University track to GOLDOC ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
The Hannans have managed the track for almost two decades, but with the facility to be used as an official training track for the Commonwealth Games, organisers have taken over and will hand the venue back to the university to manage after the event. Sharon Hannan, who coached Sally Pearson to Olympic gold while based at the track, has been involved with the facility even before inception.
“Prior to the track even being built, back in 1996, I was part of the advisory committee and we had to go and research 10 possible sites and report back to council,” Sharon said. “It was officially opened in November 1998 and we started training here in the August.
“I was a volunteer track manager until it went through council and then they appointed me a temporary manager. Then they called tenders and we (the Hannans’ company Sports Credentials) won the tender and started officially on the first of January 1999.”
While disappointed with the decision, Hannan is ready to let go.
“I kind of look at it as my baby and now I have to adopt it out,” she said. “Someone else is going to be looking after it and I just have to accept that it’s going to work.
“You tend to have this little vision for yourself that you’re doing the best job in the country and it’s the best little track in the country – I think the best-managed in terms of the sport.
“But the university wants feet on the playing field, so it’s got to be done differently.”
Without the responsibility of management though, the Hannans are likely to commit even more time to coaching and unearthing the next Gold Coast athletics champion.
“Ultimately, I think we’ll get even more out of our coaching,” Sharon said.
“Part of the contract from day dot has always been that I have to be contactable 24/7, so that gets a bit annoying if you’re out on the oval and the phone’s ringing.
“So I think from an intrusion point of view, it’ll be a whole lot better.”
And they remain committed to spreading the track and field gospel, especially in country areas.