Downs athletes set for national titles

Darling Downs Athletics competitors perform strongly at state championships.

Queensland state championship dual gold medalist Mason Hughes with Darling Downs Athletics secretary-treasurer Natalie Wright.

ATHLETICS : A large contingent of Downs athletes have qualified for this month’s Australian Track and Field Championships after performing strongly at the Queensland titles.

Twenty-eight Darling Downs Athletics representatives attended the Queensland Athletics State Championship in Brisbane from March 4-8.

Led by a yet another quality performance from thrower Mason Hughes, the squad scored numerous medal wins and produced personal best performances with 22 squad members qualifying for the national titles.

The championships will be held in Sydney from March 21-28.

Hughes won gold in the 20 years men’s discus and shot put.

He capped his gold efforts with silver medal throws in both the open men’s discus and shot put at his first taste of open age competition at the championships.

Wihan Kruger also competed in two age groups for a second placing in the boys under-16 javelin before jumping an age group to win gold in the under-17 boys javelin.

Other gold medal winners included Anna Park who took out the under-14 girls long jump.

Nicholas Denny finished first in the under-14 boys 100 metres and 200-metre sprints.

Jack Smith scored gold in his under-14 discus event.

Crystal Pollard won gold in the open ladies ambulant 100 metres.

Under-16 girls competitor Hattie Lloyd-Jones won a steeplechase gold medal.

Paul Draheim finished first in the under-17 400-metre hurdles.

Darling Downs Athletics secretary-treasurer Natalie Wright said the impressive list of national championship qualifiers was a just reward for the efforts of Downs competitors at the state titles.

“It was an unbelievable result,” Wright said.

“Three-quarters of the Darling Downs Athletics squad have qualified for the nationals.

“Mason (Hughes) was again a standout.

“It’s the first time he’s taken on the open division and he’s not even 18 years old yet.

“To win his two age gold medals and then to win silver in the opens is a spectacular result.

“Wihan Kruger also stepped up to the next age group in javelin and won gold in the under 17.

“Even those who didn’t medal at states but have qualified for the nationals have excelled.

“I’m so proud of them all.”