Geraldton athletes to take their marks for the final event of the season following success at State events

Geraldton Athletics Centre will hold its last event of the season tomorrow after members brought medals home from recent country and State events.

The club will be using new electronic timing gates at the event for the first time.

Club captain Sophie Batten, who competes in the under-17s, said she was “really looking forward to running through” the gates.

With the club meet running a week after local athletes competed in the Athletics West Little Athletics WA competition in Perth, Sophie said the challenging State competition was helping with their progression.

“It’s tough competition and quite intimidating for our younger athletes to enter such a big arena, but they’ve all really stepped up,” she said.

“We thank our parents and volunteer coaches for supporting us to reach this level of competition.”

Centre president Phill Hadley said the biggest squad in years had travelled down for the event.

“This is certainly the biggest and most challenging competition our athletes have experienced,” he said. “It’s at these events that our next generation of Olympians are found, so it’s a real privilege to be part of helping our athletes participate.

“They achieved some amazing personal bests, as well as medals, and we are incredibly proud that our club can provide regional athletes with this experience.”

Sophie won bronze in the under-17 girls’ 300m hurdles and silver in 100m hurdles at the State event, while Nevaeh Hill won gold in the under-15 girls’ 300m hurdles and silver in the 90m hurdles. Amelia Heinrich, Elainey Teakle, Bonny Dean and Indie Reed competed in under-9s events, while Milla Samulkiewicz competed in under-10s and Paige Heinrich, Alyssa Bergsma, Lochie Hadley and Trey Horobin were in the under-11s.

Dianna Vlavianos competed in under-12s, while Macey Hadley and Kylah Samulkiewicz competed in under-13s, Tahlia Singleton, Taylah Dean and Riley Heinrich competed in under-14s, and Ella Batten competed in under-15s.