Illawong Athletics

The ANSW website had shown that there would be a track meet at The Ridge on Friday night 26/12 - Boxing Day.

Please note that there will be NO meet held on Friday night.

A small but determined group braved the threatening weather and strong winds to experience some "serious but fun" competition.

Athletes came from Blacktown, Asics West, Sutherland and Athletics East and we saw some Illawong "legends" step out on the night.

Michael Dooley and John Thompson also showed that necessity is the mother of invention, improvising some interesting starting and timing methods.

The Illawong club spirit was again to the fore over the weekend at the ANSW state relays.

The club had 37 teams compete over the weekend, 26 teams finish in the first four and we brought home 15 team medals.

An absolutely outstanding club and team effort.

Highlights included:

• Two Open State Titles in the Men's 4 x 100m and the Women's high jump.
• Victory also in the U/18 Women's high jump.
• A silver rush in the Open Women's 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m and 4 x 400m. So close were these three teams to victory that the cumulative difference across the three events was less than one second.  
• Silver also in the U/20 Women's 4 x 100m, U/16 Women's 4 x 200m and and the U/18 Women's Javelin.
•  Bronze medals to U/18 Men's High Jump, U/20 Women's 4 x 200m, U/14 Women's 4 x 100m,U/16 Men's 4 x 400m, U/14 Men's 4 x 200 and certainly not least the Masters Men's Shot Put.

As always all our athletes were outstanding, running out of their age group, filling in and most of all giving their all the club.

A special thanks to all the team managers who spend hours organising teams, confirming and reconfirming teams over the past three weeks.

A very special thanks to the Dooleys, Michael and John for their efforts not only as coaches but as team organisers and coordinators. Without their efforts much of the Illawong weekend would not have been possible. 

Please note that this Friday (14 November) night's track and field series has been deferred.

Many of our athletes, coaches and club officials are heavily involved with this weekends State Relay Championships so we have decided to defer this weeks event.

Normal Friday night competition will resume in two weeks time -  28 November- Series 1.

All the best to all our athletes who will take to the track and the field over the course of this weekend flying the Illawong colours.

Salt Pan Creek cross country results ...