Little Athletics excel at state championships

IT was another successful weekend for the Swan Hill Little Athletics centre recently, with 12 athletes competing at the LAVic State Track and Field Championships at Casey Fields.

Having qualified for the state championships via success at the regional championships in February, the 12 athletes returned home with a swag of medals and top 10 finishes.

Kayla McInerney won a silver medal in the under-14 long jump, Hunter Wells won bronze in the under-17 triple jump and Carly Shepherd won bronze in the under-16 800m.

Kayla will go on to represent Victoria in the under-14 long jump at the Coles Australian Little Athletics Championships in Adelaide at the end of April after achieving a nation qualifying performance.

Also set to represent Victoria from Swan Hill will be Jack Barry and Aidan Nolen, after they too achieved national qualifying times, with Barry to compete in the 200m, 400m, hurdles and relay and Nolen to run in the 400m.

Swan Hill Little Athletics Centre secretary Felicia Chalmers was elated with the results telling The Guardian all of Swan Hill’s representatives did the region “proud”.

“At state championships, our athletes get to compete at a higher level and against some of the best junior athletes from across Victoria,” Chalmers said.

“It is so thrilling for our athletes to compete at this level, a real life experience and our athletes did us proud, with top 10 finishes, medals and national qualifying performances.

“We can’t wait to see how Jack (Barry), Kayla (McInerney) and Aiden (Nolen) go at their national level championships in April, which is an awesome achievement.”

The Swan Hill Little Athletics summer season has now finished, with the club’s presentation night and AGM held last Friday night.