QGSSSA sporting history: Multi sport athletes set to shine
QGSSSA track and field: History to be made at private school girl athletic championship meet.
West
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Athlete preparations for the 102nd QGSSSA (Queensland Girls Secondary Schools Sports Association) track and field championships were in full swing ahead of a September 15 competition which will include the historic appearance of multi sport athletes.
A breeding ground for some of Australia’s finest athletes - including 2022 world junior selections Torrie Lewis (sprinter) and Toby Stolzberg (high jump) - the QGSSSA has now opened up a world of opportunity for multi class athletes like Abby Craswell (MBC), Holly Warn (St Hilda’s), Charisse Sham (Clayfield College) and Phoebe Finlay (St Aidan’s) - and others into the future.
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The QGSSSA has already successfully incorporated events for para-athletes into its recent swimming and cross-country championships, and now athletes will be a field a dreams of some students.
The available events for multi-class athletes include 100m, 200m, 800m and long jump.
A QGSSSA spokeswomen said “one of the key pillars of the QGSSSA is participation, and inclusivity is a critical part of this’’.
“The addition of multi-class events is an opportunity for the girls to compete with peers and their resilience, determination and enjoyment they have for their sport is sure to inspire,’’ the spokeswomen said.
Year 12 Moreton Bay College student and track and field vice-captain Abby Craswell was an exceptional role model in sport since aged 11.
“Currently, my goals are to keep improving my 100m and 200m times and to represent Australia at the Para World Championships in 2023,’’ she said.
“I also would like to compete in the 2024 Paris Paralympics – especially as I came so close to competing in Tokyo last year” she said.
She said she was proud to be part of the game-changing group of athletes in the QGSSSA’s inaugural year of multi-class competition … although, I am in grade 12 and will only compete once, it is great to think of the opportunity it will bring for more aspiring para-athletes.
“I truly believe that it will encourage the next generation of super star para-sport kids to have a go and realise their potential.
“I am hoping that the small part I have played setting an example will inspire increased participation in sport for all students.”
At the QGSSSA track and field championships, Craswell will be joined by Holly Warn of St Hilda’s, Phoebe Finlay from St Aidan’s and maybe more athletes as the season progresses.
St Hilda’s student Holly Warn is classed as a T/F 37 para-athlete and has had a love for swimming since a young age.
Warn now swims at a national level and has mixed it with the best at the Tokyo Olympic trials. Warn was a star at the QGSSSA Swimming Championships earlier this year and found
it inspiring to spend time with her swimming idols Katja Dedekind, Lakeisha Patterson and Ariarne Titmus at the event, Holly also did a brilliant job at the QGSSSA Cross Country this year.
“Meeting great para-athletes inspires you to chase your own dreams. I watched Katja win gold in Birmingham and set a world record in the 50m – which was so cool” she said.
“Inclusion and providing opportunities to ‘all types’ of athletes is fantastic. I am very grateful for QGSSSA using 2022 as a step forward in this area.” Holly aspires to become a Paralympian and compete for Australia, inspiring others to follow their dreams.
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“No doubt there are students who have wanted to participate in sports within the QGSSSA schools, or even girls who want to participate from outside QGSSSA schools who will see what was achieved this year and want to get involved.
“It will be so great to see more athletes in the coming years across these sports and to see a future national, Commonwealth Games or Olympic athlete that has competed in multi-class in QGSSSA”.
Charisse Sham is a Year 7 student at Clayfield College and has been enjoying training and the practice meets, testing her fitness and increasing her skills leading up to the Championships. “I am so excited to be part of the QGSSSA competition, and have been encouraged by my Head of Sport at Clayfield to compete.
“I have already achieved a personal best in the 100m sprint, and I want to do that in all the other events too.”
Phoebe Finlay from St Aidan’s is vision impaired and is incredibly excited to be part of the new QGSSSA multi-class events.
Phoebe has been motivated by her experiences in Swimming and Cross Country to keep training hard and be involved in as much as she possibly can.
“It is so much fun to be a part of it all, even if you get really nervous.
“I hope that we are showing other girls with disabilities how supportive all the girls are and I want them to experience how much fun it is to be part of the team and to compete for their school.”
Phoebe has aspirations to compete as a Paralympian at the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, in front of her home crowd and with support from organisations such as the QGSSSA, the future of para sport in Australia is looking bright.
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