Nowra's Country Medal Blitz

Nowra Athletics Club had a terrific weekend at the NSW Country Championships, with local athletes producing some monumental efforts to bring home a swag full of medals in all but a few events.

Erin Binks was the undisputed sprint queen in the 18/19 year category, winning gold 2OOm, 400m and 800m events and also a bronze in the lOOm race final.

Ten-year-old Mia Davidson had a great couple of days with medals in the 100, 800, shotput and discus events.

Aimee Gibb (l2years) put in a power performance taking bronze and silver in the shot-put and javelin field events.

Relative newcomer Candace Mayo, showed great promise by taking second place in the girls
13-year javelin and narrowly missed out on placings in the other throwing events.

In the junior boys events Hayden Miller came in first in the 1500m and later claimed silver in the long jump, while 17-year-olds Jake Ring (first 800m and second 1500m) and Alex Pitkethly (second 3000m and second 2000 steeple chase) produced the goods when it counted most, picking up gold and silver medals in their middle distance events.

Great efforts also came from Josh Murphy who took bronze in the 16-years triple jump and Jackson Van Arkel (13yrs) who won silver in the 200mn hurdles.

The club spirit continued on at the State meet with Nowra Senior Athletes out performing much larger local clubs at the Newcastle facility.

Middle distance specialist Paul Davidson (30-39) was in superb form winning the 1500m, 5000m and the 3000m (steeple chase) events and also took third place in the long jump.

Local athlete and coach Barry Creer showed the way winning gold in the (40-49) javelin, silver in the long Jump and 200m and bronze in the lOOm and 200m. He later participated in the 4xlOOm relay winning another silver medal.

The ever fresh Doug McNalley (50-59yrs) won gold in the javelin, silver in the shot-put and bronze in the long jump.

Perry Strand (30-39) showed his versatility winning silver in the 400m hurdles and bronze in the triple jump.

Bernie Condon claimed another two medals medals winning bronze in the lOOm and silver in the relay.

In the women’s events Terry Parker took first in the open women’s javelin with a throw of 37.22m, while Claire Pitkethly claimed second in the (40-49) javelin.

Cristine Suffolk (30-39) was first in the1500m and took second in the 8OOm and 3OOOm
while Alison Strand was close behind for third in the 3000m.

Thank you to all the families, officials and friends who assisted at the Country Championships