Altona Athletics Centre top performers Brodie Hicks, Luke Whatman, Matthew Hussey, Alysha Yacono, Zoe Woods, Megan Whatman and Olivia Yacono. 78985 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
ALTONA Athletics Centre athletes claimed two gold, five silver and six bronze medals at the State Little Athletic Track and Field Championships in Bendigo on 24-25 March.
Brodie Hicks, in his debut year, won the Under-9 Boys 400m and 800m events, as well as a silver in the 200m and bronze in the 100m.
Zoe Woods snagged two silvers in the Under-9 Girls 400m and 800m, and was only narrowly defeated in both events.
State schools and little athletics champion Matthew Hussey had to settle for two silver medals, in the Under-11 Boys 800m and 1500m.
His effort in the 1500m was remarkable given he suffered a heavy fall early in the race but managed to get up and re-join the race.
In the Under-13 Boys, Ben Tipper kept up his run of success by winning a bronze in the 1500m and a fourth-place in the 800m.
In the Under-13 Girls, after being so close to a medal over the last four to five years, Alysha Yacono won bronze in the 800m.
Her younger sister Olivia, competing in the Under-10 Girls just missed out on a medal, finishing fourth in her 800m race.
Grace Goldsworthy won a bronze medal in the Under-11 Girls 200m and advanced to the final of the 70m and 100m.
Competing in the Under-9 Girls triple jump, Megan Whatman was sitting in gold position with just two jumps to go, but had to settle for bronze.
“This was a fantastic result for our centre and really shows the quality of athletes in the Hobsons Bay area,” Altona Athletics Centre president Phil Dowd said.
“This is particularly true when you realise we lose a few athletes each year who choose to run on a synthetic track at other larger centres, but we are working with the council to address this issue.”
