By Marcus Uhe
The strength and success of Berwick Little Athletics was on full display on the national stage late last month at the School Sport Australia Track and Field Championships in Launceston, Tasmania.
Six athletes from Berwick Little Athletics represented their state in various events at the Championships between 23 and 27 November, having qualified to represent Victoria at state trials back in September.
Only the top three athletics in each state, in each discipline, are chosen to compete at the Australian Championships, showing a strong performance from Berwick’s competitors.
Portia Miller and Hudson Stanford were the standout performers on their second trip to the national stage.
Miller won the 800m medley relay and placing second in the junior heptathlon adaptation named the ‘combined event’ (100m, 800m, long jump and shot put) in the U11 girls field, while Stanford won his combined event in U12 boys, placed second in the shot put and third in the 4 x 100m relay.
Track and Field coordinator at Berwick Little Athletics Paul Spencer said the club is extremely proud of their competitors.
“This is the largest contingent from Berwick to have gone to one national carnival,” Spencer said.
“They’re competing with every state bar Western Australia and all but two haven’t been to that national level.
“The kids have to go through (Victorian qualification) and finish in the top three in that before they can qualify for the Victorian team.
“It’s a massive effort, especially for the six kids to have gone through the trial and been selected.”
Berwick is the second largest Little Athletics centre in Victoria, trailing only Geelong, with 450 competitors at the Edwin Flack Reserve Athletics Track.
The centre has produced a number of professional athletes, including Race Walker Rebecca Henderson, AFLW icon Ellie Blackburn and emerging Hockey star Josie Lawton.
With the Brisbane Olympics on the horizon in 2032, there may a handful of Berwick’s burgeoning talents contending for places on the athletics team in nine years time.
Results:
Portia Miller: U11 Girls: 2nd – Combined event, 1st – 800m medley relay.
Charlie Ellis: U11 Boys: 9th – shot put, 12th – discuss.
Lucas Newman: U11 Boys: 11th – Combined event, 10th – high jump.
Liam Riky: U11 Boys: 11th – 1500m.
Mia Spencer: U12 Girls: 4th – Combined event, 2nd – 800m medley relay.
Hudson Stanford: U12 Boys: 1st – combined event, 2nd – shot put, 3rd – 4 x 100m relay.
