Throwers ‘discus’ online event

Athletes join online competition

( From left ) discus throwers Mason Hughes and Will Gilmore. Tuesday, 7th Jul, 2020.

ATHLETICS : Two Toowoomba throwers are leading a campaign to unite their community.

Darling Downs Athletics Club members Will Gilmore and Mason Hughes are participating in online competition with "bragging rights and an Instagram shout out" the prize.

"It started out as a conversation with a mate of up north (Queensland)," discus thrower Mason Hughes said.

"Right now I should be in Kenya at the World Athletics U20 Championships, but COVID-19 but a stop to that.

"While talking to my friend we decided we had had enough of waiting around, so we started an online comp between us and a few other throwers.

"There's a group chat and we have to film ourselves throwing and measuring our distances, it's just a bit of fun really, there's no prize just bragging rights and maybe a shout-out on Instagram."

For Gilmore, the chance to test his arm competitively is a welcome break to his current training regimen.

"It's good, I'm actually looking forward to the competition and having a bit of fun," he said.

"I haven't stopped training during the shutdown, but this is a good chance to do something different."

COVID-19 restrictions brought the athletics season to a halt, and while both throwers are disappointed their national campaigns were cancelled they are using the shutdown to refocus.

"Having the opportunity to ease off a little has been good," Gilmore said.

"Not having to push through a session if I'm not quite up to it is a bit of a relief.

"I've still been sticking to my normal routine the majority of the time, though."

For Hughes, it's been a chance to strengthen his game.

"Nothing has changed for me. I'm just been treating it as a longer off-season," Hughes said.

"I've been sticking to my training and really working on my strength.

"The guys I'm competing against are man mountains with a good extra 30kg on me.

"So I've been really focused on building my strength as much as possible to go with the technique I already have."

Originally published as