North Queensland Athletics Championships: The performances that shaped Mackay’s club title

Mackay Athletics Club ticked off a significant milestone at the North Queensland Championships. Discover the performances that made it possible.

Mackay Athletics Club has made history, winning the North Queensland Athletics Championship for the first time.

MAC took out top spot with 1397 points, ahead of Townsville North Star Athletics and Keppel Coast Athletics.

“There was quite a few PBs, especially with the young kids, new achievements is exciting for them. It’s a whole club achievement,” MAC president Madeleine Simmons said.

“Some even have goals for the Olympics and are training hard for that, like Toby Rule and James Galea.

“We’ve got some very good young athletes that are performing well for the club.”

The performances that shaped the success

Simmons said it was hard to choose “just a few” athletes which had contributed to the club’s success, with competitors from six to 83 years of age adding to their final points tally.

The Rule brothers stood out with Toby taking out the mile and Oliver the inaugural 10,000m event.

The pair also won their respective 3000m races among other medals.

The Rule boys’ mum, Belinda, also trained Alleah Fallon, a rising middle-to-long distance runner who won three under-13 medals.

Mackay Athletics Club's Alleah Fallon. Picture: Supplied

Sprinters Damon Brown and Mikela Webb both competed in the 100m, 200m, and 100-yard events, claiming three medals.

Olympic discus hopeful James Galea took on myriad throwing events, walking away with four gold and two silver medals, while Connor Lawn jumped his way to two silver and a gold.

Teen para-athletes Thomas Martin and Keira Caban also performed impressively.

A number of SLEAK Squad athletes displayed their prowess with Adison Byrd scoring four medals; Seth Lowis, Oren Byrd, Trae O’Brien each scoring three medals; and Ngakau Ufton scoring two.

Mackay Athletics Club's Oren Byrd, who won bronze in high jump, long jump, and triple jump. Picture: Supplied.

Mackay Athletics Club's Adison Byrd won gold in triple jump and long jump among his four medals. Picture: Supplied.

Young pole-vaulters Kayce Hoani-Vincent and Kayce McCahon both set new records in their age groups.

Masters athlete Tammy Meyer capped off a strong season of vast improvement with three PBs and six medals.

Mackay Athletics Club's Tammy Meyer, who picked up three PBs. Picture: Supplied.

Also raking in the masters medals were Ben Ross with nine; Madeleine Simmons with seven; Cathryn Hoare and Anthony Galea with six; Emily Hayles, Steve Hayles, Mel Esau, Terry Ryan, Daniel Conroy, and Justin Locher with four each; and Mel Esau with three running golds.

Anthony Galea, 83, is James Galea’s grandfather. And Simmons broke the pole vault record in the women’s 40-44 with 2.4m, an impressive 30cm increase.

Last but not least, Terry Ryan broke the North Queensland High Jump record in the 65-69 years men, which had stood for 13 years, reaching 1.26m up from 1.25m.