WE PICK OUR TOP ATHLETES
DARLING Downs is well represented across all codes on a state, national and international level.
The region boasts medal-winning Olympians and top-level rugby league players, weightlifters, boxers and even equestrian stars.
This week The Chronicle sports team has compiled a list of the region’s top athletes – not an easy task considering two of us are new to the job and one of us is new to the region.
So we have decided to let the readers vote on who they think is number one.
Here’s our list of some the best performers of 2017.
Andrew Dodt
GOLF: Gatton’s favourite golfing son enjoyed his most successful year yet on the European Tour in December.
Dodt finished his seventh year on the European tour in 44th place on the order of merit list, well ahead of 145th place finish in 2016.
His lofty placing also saw him finish the highest-placed Australian on the tour.
Dodt’s year highlights included appearances in the British Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and the World Golf Championships tournament in Shanghai.
Emilee Cherry
RUGBY SEVENS: Emilee Cherry is the first athlete from Roma to compete at an Olympic Games since 1948.
She has since showed no signs of slowing down and was an instrumental part of the national sevens team in 2017 and even scored her 100th try for Australia.
She also helped the University of Queensland enjoy a perfect season in the inaugural Uni 7s competition.
Nathan Graves
CYCLING: Nathan Graves had a seamless transition from elite cycling into the Masters division last year.
The Toowoomba cyclist finished his year with a 100% winning strike rate at the World Masters Track Cycling Championships in Los Angeles where he won three gold medals and broke a world record.
It was the former elite national championship rider’s first venture into Masters’ competition.
Mia Stower
NETBALL: Toowoomba’s Mia Stower will train alongside high-profile netballers like former Australian Diamonds defender Chanel Gomes and Scotland international Hayley Mulheron after she was selected in the Queensland Fusion side.
She will start training with the state squad this month and into February.
Last year Stower was announced as the Queensland under-17 most valuable player as well as named the most valuable player for the Darling Downs Panthers after their State Netball League division two city season.
The talented junior was also picked in the competition’s City team to take on Country.
Brodie Croft
RUGBY LEAGUE: Dalby product Brodie Croft is set to succeed Cooper Cronk as Melbourne Storm’s halfback.
Croft served as Cronk’s understudy in Melbourne and filled in for the outgoing legend of the club in the NRL team at various points over the past two seasons.
The 20-year-old played four games for the Storm last season and kicked the match-winning field goal against the Cowboys back in round 15.
The Highfields and Toowoomba Clydesdales junior is regarded as a Cronk clone because of his similar playing style and even his looks.
Delissa Kimmence CRICKET/AUSSIE RULES
FOOTBALL: Delissa Kimmince is a jack of all trades.
The talented athlete was drafted into the inaugural AFLW where she made a last-minute debut for the Brisbane Lions in their game against Western Bulldogs in March last year.
Since then Kimmence has decided to focus on her cricket career and was back in the green and gold in November.
The Warwick all-rounder starred for the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League towards the end of last year.
Hamish Stewart
RUGBY UNION: The former Toowoomba Grammar School player had a breakout year in 2017.
Stewart was part of two championship winning state teams; the Queensland U20s and Queensland Country in the National Rugby Championships.
The flyhalf was also selected to represent Australia in the World Rugby U20s Championships following his Super Rugby debut for the Queensland Reds. Wylie Buzza AUSSIE RULES FOOTBALL: Wylie Buzza starred in his AFL debut for Geelong.
The Gatton star was a late inclusion in the round 15 game against GWS, kicking two goals and racking up six touches in the drama-filled draw.
He was a regular key position forward for the rest of Geelong’s season.
The Cats picked up Buzza with pick No.69 in the 2015 National Draft and will retain the services of the 21-year-old after he extended his contract for another two seasons.
Steph Hancock
RUGBY LEAUGE: Steph Hancock ended her sparkling rugby league career late last year with a World Cup victory over the Kiwi Ferns.
Hancock’s Australian Jillaroos career spanned 15 years and included captaining Queensland and Australia.
Hancock and her father Rohan are the only father-daughter combo to represent Australia.
Patrick Tiernan
ATHLETICS: The Toowoomba runner has been dubbed a superstar in the making by the godfather of Australian distance running, Steve Moneghetti.
Patrick Tiernan is in the running for a Commonwealth Games medal despite a second place in the Zatopek 10 in December.
Tiernan, who was defending his 2016 Zatopek 10 title, was run down late by McSewyn in a sprint finish after taking the race lead six laps from the finish.
Honourable mentions
Ashley Taylor (NRL), Ellie Bowyer (thrower - Junior Commonwealth Youth Games and Oceania Melanesian Athletics Championship medallist), Paralympian Claire Keefer (Rio bronze medallist), Brendan Doggett (Queensland Bulls), Shaleise Law (WAFL Brisbane Lions).