Local star trains next generation for athletics carnival

WARWICK athletes will take to the track this weekend after rain delayed carnival.

REGIONALS BOUND: 10 young athletes will represent Warwick this weekend at the Little Athletics regional carnival in Toowoomba.

ATHLETICS: Third time will be the charm for the Warwick Little Athletics club, who are expected compete at the regional carnival this weekend.

Rain forced event organisers to reschedule the carnival on two occasions, with future athletics stars eager to take to the track and field after weeks of preparation.

Competing against clubs from Tenterfield, the Granite Belt, Highfields, Laidley, Mt Tarampa, Roma, Ropehill, Toowoomba, and Upper Lockyer, secretary Lisa Fitzgerald said it would be good to see the team’s hard work pay off.

“It’s the one big event that these kids get to go to this year, if they don’t end up getting to go to the regional relays,” she said.

“Our kids in the under 9s and older will be pushing for state selection too.”

With a team of 10 set to compete at the two-day carnival, the recent coaching of local athletics star Justyn Rogers has helped fine tune athletes skills.

“We had Justyn, as well as Bec and Nathan Rogers, come down last year, and we saw a big difference in the kid’s performances and PBs,” she said.

“For the kids, because they know Justyn used to be at Little Athletics, they are able to look up to him.

“They just love having some who is older, and who isn’t necessarily their mum or dad coaching them.”

While most of the team will be looking to set new personal bests, Fitzgerald admitted they were interested in seeing the performance of one up and coming athlete.

“I think Nick Caterson will do really well on the weekend,” she said.

“He’s a thrower, doing discus, javelin and shot put.

“He’ll be pushing himself to make the states team.”

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