Flagstaff Hill athletics club opens doors to youngsters from around the world

FLAGSTAFF Hill Athletics Club has become home to young runners from around the globe and they will show off their talents at the 120m Gift meeting.

Flagstaff Athletics Club runners (from left) Dylan Boyce (16, Barbados), Josh Bell (16, Scotland), Monty Boey (13, Malaysia), Kyle Gillies (16, Australia), Jamilla Hartogh-Jennings (14, South Africa), Wade Bentley (11, South Africa), Asher Gillings (16, Jamaica) & Samuel Burbridge (12, England). Picture: Bianca De Marchi

THERE are runners from Malaysia, England and South Africa, even young competitors with Caribbean and Scottish heritage.

Flagstaff Hill Athletics Club has become its own young united nations outfit given the number of countries represented in the group.

“I call Flagstaff Hill interstate transfer hill,” FH’s head coach John LeRay said. “When people come from interstate they seem to come to Flagstaff Hill.

“It’s nice to have such a diverse group and the parents are extremely supportive.”

The youthful brigade will be in action on Saturday night when the club hosts its 24th version of the Flagstaff Hill Gift. It is the South Australian Athletic League’s third oldest meet behind the Bay Sheffield and Camden Classic.

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The meet will be contested under lights after being delayed three hours because of the heat and has attracted 341 nominations, the second highest in its history.

Clay Watkins, who has a Bay Sheffield victory on his resume, is the backmarker among the 28 entries for the 120m Gift off 1.75m. Last week’s Loxton Gift winner Jacob Aston has been penalised two metres for the win.

Jordan McMillan faces the testing challenge as the backmarker in the women’s 120m sprint after being given just 1m.

It is six metres behind the mark from which she created history in December as the youngest winner of the women’s Bay Sheffield at just 14 years.