[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″ offset=”vc_col-lg-1/5 vc_col-md-1/5 vc_col-xs-1/5″][us_image image=”82136″ size=”thumbnail” align=”left” style=”circle” has_ratio=”1″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/12″ offset=”vc_col-lg-4/5 vc_col-md-4/5 vc_col-xs-4/5″][vc_column_text]By Lawrence Machodo[/vc_column_text][us_post_date][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Cherrybrook’s team of Para-classified athletes enjoyed great success at the recent 2023 Athletics NSW Para State Masters Championships, held in conjunction with the U23 and Open state championships.
Former Sydney 2000 Para-Olympic powerlifter turned internationallyranked track and field athlete Kim Neuenkirchen (Rr2/F3) captured three gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 400m frame running.
Seated thrower Julie Charlton (T54/F57) – who represented Australia at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games last year – won two golds in discus and javelin plus a bronze in shot put.
Sara Kely (T20/F20) enjoyed a successful championship, with bronze medals in the shot put and discus and fourth place in the javelin. She is keen on improving her performances at the Nationals in Brisbane next month.
Cherrybrook Athletics president Michael Hampton said the results across different competitions including juniors and masters, underlined their strength and the commitment of their members. Their representatives also medalled in the Under23 and Open State events and the Australian Masters.
“The strong results from the youngest to the oldest members show the depth of talent, dedication – and importantly the enjoyment of athletics – at Cherrybrook Athletics,” Hampton said.
“It is also wonderful to see athletes having a lifelong association with and enjoyment of the sport at all levels, from our medallists and those aiming for national and international representation to all those athletes who also took part just hoping to achieve a personal best in the recent championships.”
Cherrybrook local Kely, turning 22 this month, has been competing in athletics since starting Little Athletics at age 5. She is giving back to her club by volunteering her time and services at Cherrybrook Little Athletics.
The former Pennant Hills High School student represented Australia at the Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi, aged 18 in 2019, winning a silver in 4x100m and bronze in both 100m and shot put. While she has her sights set on again making the Special Olympics team, what she really enjoys is having fun and giving her best shots in her events.
Kely also competes in Open events with able-bodied athletes and was a member of Cherrybrook Athletics Treloar Shield teams last year. It is an attitude she is trying to instill in younger athletes in Cherrybrook LA.
“I enjoy watching the younger athletes doing their best and it is important to me to also see them having fun,” Kely said. Kely and her mum Amanda, Cherrybrook Athletics’ Para athletic coordinator, devoutly train and mentor younger Para athletes. They are particularly pleased with the progress of their young charge Aaron Palmer qualifying in five events for the LANSW State Championships.
Cherrybrook’s younger athletes made a strong impact at the Athletics NSW Junior State Championships, while the club representatives were also prominent at the NSW Open champs and Australian Masters Association championships at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre over the past few weeks.
At the Junior and U20 State Championships in the last weekend of February, a large contingent of Cherrybrook athletes from ages Under 13-U20 came home with an amazing haul of 19 medals (automatic qualifiers for the Nationals). Defending Under-16 pole vault champion Teddy Hampton proved unbeatable in his pet event to retain the title underlying the depth in the Cherrybrook LA roster.
Cherrybrook athletes netted more medals at the 2023 Australian Masters Association national championships, and the Under-23 and Open State Championships. Matthew Joyce (30-34) won gold in both the 800m and 1500m in the Masters, followed with medals for Jenny Koot (45-49) discus silver; Rob Clark (60-64) hammer throw silver and Ivan Maclaine (45-49) won 400m hurdles bronze.
Emily Britton won silver in the Under-23 and Open state 100m hurdles followed by impressive runs in the Maurie Plant meet in Melbourne and Sydney Track Classic. She now has a World University Games qualifier under her belt.
LIST OF CHERRYBROOK ATHLETES WHO STARRED IN THE ATHLETICS NSW PARA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Gold: Teddy Hampton (U16) pole vault.
Silver: Robbie Cullen (U20) high jump and bronze 400m hurdles; Thomas Shannon (U18) steeplechase; Tara Webb (U18) long jump and triple jump; Viktorija Calusic (U18) high jump; Xavier Hennessey (U17) pole vault; Sarah-Anne Koot (U17) 100m hurdles; Caitlin Brennan (U17) 400m hurdles; Nisini Rajapaksha Mudiyenselage (U13) pole vault and bronze in high jump; Harry O’Neill (U13) high jump
Bronze: Erin Partridge (U20) javelin; Daniel de Sacadura (U20) discus; Idris Burkhardt (U17) steeplechase; Olivia Moresi (U17) high jump; Wade Billingsley (U13) hammer throw; Julie Charlton Laila Burkhardt (U13) pole vault[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
