Australian Little Athletics: 20 years after NRL guns raced a new NSW generation are heading to ALAC

Two decades ago two now famous NRL names competed for their state at the Australian Little Athletics titles. Now a new generation of rising stars will compete for NSW this weekend.

Two decades ago two young guns who went on to make their names in NRL - plus a couple who did the same in athletics - made the NSW team to compete at the Australian Little Athletics championships.

Little Athletics NSW did a dive into history and came up with the 2002 team which included

NRLs Chris Lawrence and Mitchell Pearce, race walker and now coach Nicole Fagan and distance runner Heidi See.

Now a new generation of young guns with big dreams and plenty of talent will represent their state at the Australian titles in Melbourne this weekend.

FIRST ATHLETES NAMED FOR COMM GAMES

Some of the Little Athletics young guns representing NSW at the Australian titles.

Members of the 48-strong team hail from both city and country areas including Wagga Wagga, Port Macquarie, The Hills, Kotara South, Kiama, Manly Warringah, Parramatta, Sutherland and the Hunter.

But manager Alvin Umadhay said the focus of the event is an unusual one.

“It’s the only teams track and field athletics event,’’ he said.

“So it’s not just about winning gold, it’s about where your teammates are finishing.’’

Umadhay said he is expecting Victoria to be NSW’s main obstacle to defending the overall trophy at the two-day event.

Philippa Quarrell is in the NSW team after a season to remember.

“Our main rival is always Victoria,’’ he said.

“But we actually have a good record at the championships.

“I always say the talent pool from every state is pretty much the same but its about how well the team competes with each other, not against each other.

“This is the only championships where you want your rivals, if teammates, to do as well or even better than you.’’

NSW TEAM FOR 2022 AUSTRALIAN LITTLE ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP

U15 COMBINED EVENTS

Michael Ajaka – Parramatta

Lucas Harvey Cosseteini – Kotara South

Benjamin Kasozi – Hills District

Jaide Almeida – South Eastern

Sarah Lovell – Ku-ring-gai

Lily Stewart – Inner West

(L-R) Joel Moresi of Carlingford High School, left, and Trent Alley, right, at the NSW All Schools.

U13 BOYS

Trent Alley – Port Macquarie Little Athletics

Cameron Badger – Sutherland Little Athletics Centre

Thomas Cashion – Macquarie Hunter Athletics Club

Ryan Cloey – Glenbrook

Cooper Dabin – Wagga Wagga Athletics

Zak Evans – Northern Suburbs

Harrison Ferns – Hills District

Filtomas Finekifolau – Bankstown Sports Athletics Club

Aidan Kirk – Eschol Park

Jaide Almeida of Newtown High School Of The Performing Arts at the NSW All Schools Championships.

Dylan Lau – St George

Ratu Viliame Lewanavanua – North Rocks Carlingford

Jude Lumley – Northern Suburbs

Joel Moresi – Cherrybrook Athletics

Dylan Mortimer – Manly Warringah

Samuel Price – Cherrybrook Athletics

Jack Proudford – Hills District

Alex Spadaro – Prospect

Boston Traino – Sutherland Little Athletics Centre

Alberto Jordan – Manly Warringah

Jack Proudford from Maroota has been in great form this season.

U13 GIRLS

Erin Blayney – Northern Suburbs

Indii Bower – Campbelltown Collegians

Jemma Camilleri – Cranebrook

Elysse Diep – Bankstown Sports Athletics Club

Eva Gawel – Campbelltown Collegians

Matilda Harrison – Ku-ring-gai

Maiya Hewitt – Kiama Little Athletics

Irini Kapsalis – Balmain Little Athletics

Sienna Latanis – St George

Jessica Loring – Parramatta Little Athletics Centre

Ahlyrah Lubis – Port Hacking

Siara Mccreery – Randwick Botany

Caitlyn Martin – Winston Hills

Tigers player Chris Lawrence, left, was once a member of the NSW team.

Audrey Khamphet Pearse – South Eastern

Philippa Quarrell – Manly Warringah

Molly Rayment – Sutherland Little Athletics Centre

Tallara Joseph- Riogi – Canterbury Little Athletics Centre Inc

Keira Toohey – Gosford

Matilda Webb – Winston Hills

Kaiah Wong – Mount Druitt Little Athletics Inc

Under 13 Multi Class Boys

Nate Castelli – Port Macquarie

Under 15 Multi Class Boys

Adnan Darwich – Greystanes

Lowndes Motler – Werrington

MORE STORIES

Why a skier, cyclist, marathoner and rugby gun are teammates

More from AMANDA LULHAM HERE

Originally published as Australian Little Athletics: 20 years after NRL guns raced a new NSW generation are heading to ALAC