14 young guns making their mark in the athletics arena
From super sprinters to talented throwers, we shine the spotlight on the up-and-coming athletes making their mark at state and national level. See who’s on the list.
Rockhampton
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Central Queensland has produced more than its fair share of sporting stars.
Among those looking to add their names to the region’s impressive roll call is the next generation of track and field athletes.
From sprint stars to jumping genuines, members of the young brigade are making their mark in their chosen disciplines.
With the countdown on to the 2032 Olympic Games, we turn our attention to the competitors who could well be sporting the green and gold on the big stage in Brisbane.
They are mentored by a number of professional and passionate coaches, such as Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Melanie Woods who is driving the campaign for a synthetic athletics track to be built in Rockhampton.
Isabella Driscoll
Age: 13
Club: Keppel Coast Athletics Club
Events: 200m, 400m, long jump, triple jump
Comment: One of the rising stars of track and field in Central Queensland, having just won a silver medal at the recent Queensland Schools Championships in Brisbane in her favoured event, the 400m sprint. Is heading to Perth in December for the Australian All Schools Nationals, where she will compete in the 200m and 400m.
Holly Blunt
Age: 18
Club: Keppel Coast Athletics Club
Events: 100m, 200m, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, long jump
Comment: One of the most accomplished and decorated athletes in the region and proved that again at the recent Queensland Schools Championships, winning gold in the 100m, 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles and silver in the 200m. Her passion is hurdles and having just completed Year 12, she is Gold Coast-bound for further studies and to develop her athletics career, joining one of the best hurdle training squads in Australia.
Grace Francis
Age: 13
Club: Keppel Coast Athletics Club
Events: 800m, 1500m
Comment: An outstanding middle-distance runner who won two silver medals with huge PBs in the 800m and 1500m events at the Queensland Schools Championships. She will be taking on the best in Australia at the upcoming Australian All Schools Nationals. With the improvements she had made so far this season, it will be no surprise to see her on the podium in Perth in December.
Maddy Lynch
Age: 17
Club: Keppel Coast Athletics Club
Events: Shot put, discus, javelin
Comment: A talented athlete with an impressive record over a number of seasons in throwing events. Her strength and discipline paid off in the shot put at the recent Queensland Schools Championship where she won silver with a throw of 12.26m, only 22cm behind the gold medallist. She is also heading to Perth for the Australian All Schools Nationals.
Sharnti Woodham
Age: 17
Club: Keppel Coast Athletics Club
Events: 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, cross country, steeple chase
Comment: Has been competing for the past seven years and cemented her place as one of the outstanding distance runners in the region. This season she has been focused on the 800m and 1500m, having recently been selected to represent Athletics North Queensland at the upcoming Australian All Schools Nationals in Perth. She is training well in preparation for Perth, where she is determined to finish her season on a high note.
Zane Keiler
Age: 13
Events: Shot put, discus, javelin
Comment: Another rising star who scored a silver medal in the shot put at the Queensland Schools Championships with a massive throw of 14m. Has the potential to continue to improve and is sure to be a force in the throwing events for seasons to come.
Lily Woods
Age: Under-14
Clubs: North Rockhampton Athletics Centre/Keppel Sands Athletics Club
Comment: Won gold and three silver medals at the LAQ State Championships and followed up with bronze in the triple jump at nationals. Was awarded the Don McDowell Memorial Trophy for Junior Female Champion at the NQ Championships, where she broke the meet record to win the 100m, and also bagged gold in the 200m and silver in the long and triple jumps. Will represent North Queensland in the 100m, 200m, long jump and triple jump at the Australian All Schools Championships in Perth in December.
Finn Wyatt
Age: Under-13
Club: North Rockhampton Athletics Centre
Comment: A talented athlete who has enjoyed plenty of success since starting in the sport at age five. Put in an impressive showing at the North Queensland Championships, producing PBs to win gold in the 90m hurdles and silver in the 200m hurdles and triple jump. Had a top-10 finish in the under-12 boys combined events championships at the recent states in Brisbane. After starting as a middle-distance runner, has turned his focus to hurdling, and is currently ranked 9th in Australia in the under-14 200m hurdles.
Maggie Allridge
Age: Under-12
Club: North Rockhampton Athletics Centre
Comment: Participating as a multi-class athlete, she bagged a host of medals representing Capricornia at the state track and field (10-12 years) titles. She won gold in shot put, 100m and 200m, silver in discus and bronze in the 4x100m relay. Has been selected to represent Queensland at the national schools track and field titles in Tasmania in November.
Dolly Byrnes
Age: 10
Club: North Rockhampton Athletics Centre
Comment: A dedicated and hard-working athlete who has broken more than 10 discus records this year, including the Capricornia region record. Recently placed third at the state titles with a throw of 30.56m. Will be looking for more success when she competes at the nationals in Tasmania in November.
Emmerson Broomhall
Age: Under-17
Club: North Rockhampton Athletics Centre
Comment: Has amassed an impressive collection of medals this year at events including the Mackay Carnival, where she set five championship records, and the Central Queensland Athletics Championships. Excels in the throwing events, especially the hammer and shot put, but also competes in sprints and jumps. For the past two years, has been selected in the Little Athletics Queensland New Zealand development teams. This year, she received the statewide LAQ George Harvey Leadership Award, displaying the attributes of leadership, respect, perseverance, sportsmanship and enthusiasm.
Jacob Runham
Age: 12
Club: Central Queensland Athletics Club
Comment: Has impressed in his first year with the club, winning medals at the Mackay Track and Field Carnival and his own club carnival. Earned selection in the Capricornia schools team, putting in a strong performance in his pet event of high jump at the state championships.
Tom Latcham
Age: 15
Club: Central Queensland Athletics Club
Comment: Collected medals at the Emerald Central Highland Games Track and Field Carnival and the North Queensland Championships. Earned selection in the Capricornia schools team and has qualified to represent North Queensland at the nationals in Perth in December, where he will compete in the hammer, shot put and long jump.
Andrew Ramm
Age: 17
Club: Central Queensland Athletics Club
Comment: Showed plenty of promise in his first year with the Central Queensland Athletics Club, finishing on the podium at the Mackay Track and Field Carnival and the North Queensland Championships. Represented Capricornia, performing strongly at the states in his favourite event, the hammer. Will also represent North Queensland at the nationals in Perth in December.
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