VLAA State Track & Field Championships

WOW, two BIG days, lots of running at easy pace, warming up with my junior athletes, cooling down with some too, a great time to take the athlete away from all of the noise and the hustle & bustle of the grandstands. I'm guessing over the two days I ran 10km, maybe more, maybe less.


My post below is about my experience, most of it very good. 13 athletes, one bronze medal, lots of finalist and best of all, LOTS of PBs. The medal had very little to do with me, Gabriel had only been training with my squad for the four weeks leading upto States, his medal was in the 70m, all I did for him was work on his start and calm him down in the lead up and on the day, he & his parents appreciated it, which is great and he did run a PB, U12 9.41 for 70m.

Whilst I was very proud of many of the achievements over the weekend, probably the success story was Harley, an U14 boy who had never qual for States and was going to quit the sport, but his mum & dad asked him to do one more year with his brother (U11 who has made 3 State finals for the past 3 years). I worked on Harley's endurance aspects from Melb Cup w/e, he was then running 2:39 for 800m, with 2 weeks he ran 2:30, amazing what some control can do!!! Two days out from States Harley wanted to withdraw as he didn't think he should be there with a PB of 2:25, but the nerves settle and of course he ran. In his heat he ran a BIG PB of 2:20.13 and qual 10th fastest (Little Aths have 12 in the final), three hours later he backed up and ran a great 10th in the final in 2:21.78, both races he smashed his PB and not only did he qual for the State heats, he made it into the final and finished in the top 10! :-)

On paper, Chantelle was my most successful athlete, an U9 girl who finished 9th in the 800m and ran a PB of 2:56 (2:58 in the final) and 5th in the 400m final (75 sec), two PBs and two very good runs. But to say someone was the best is not true, they all did so well. Bailey two PBs in his 400m & 800m, not making the finals but running 2:43 in U10 800m and qualifying 13th and then running 69 in his 400m heat and finishing 9th fastest. Claire's PB in her 1500m in her first Little Aths Champs, Chelsea's efforts in her 800m heat (U11 girl) running 2:45 and then finishing 12th in the 1500m in 5:43. Thomas U10), not feeling 100%, still ran a brave 400m in 71 sec, Victoria's PB in her 400m heat, Demi (U9) breaking 3 min for the first time.

So many stories and other athletes too, but most importantly lots of great feelings for me and the kids and the parents! I was proud, parents were proud and I think the kids are proud too!!!


A few weeks off now for all of the kids.