SHINING BRIGHT: The Chronicle’s top 10 Toowoomba athletes of 2020
IT’S been a challenging year on the sporting front, but that hasn’t stopped some of Toowoomba’s finest athletes from shining on the national and international stage.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
IT’S been a challenging year on the sporting front, but that hasn’t stopped some of Toowoomba’s finest athletes from shining on the national and international stage.
The Chronicle looks at 10 of our best athletes from 2020.
SHENAE CIESIOLKA (RUGBY LEAGUE)
The Rugby Sevens international enjoyed whirlwind first year of rugby league, that saw her secure a contract with the Brisbane Broncos.
Missing out on selection in the first game of the NRLW season, she went on to play in the grand final, before being selected for Queensland in their State of Origin victory.
WILL BROWN (MOTOR SPORT)
The Toowoomba driver had another strong Super2 season, finishing second and capping off another big year for the rising talent.
He was also named as a member of the Hyundai Customer Racing Junior Driving Program, as well as linking with Erebus Motorsport to compete in the Bathurst 1000.
PATRICK TIERNAN (ATHLETICS)
The implications of COVID meant a pretty light schedule for the long-distance runner in 2020, however he finished the year with a bang.
Racing in California earlier this month, Tiernan produced the run of his life, knocking more than a second off the 10,000m Australian record.
JACK WILDERMUTH (CRICKET)
Wildermuth has been reaping the benefits of a breakout season towards the back end of 2020.
Getting his shot in the Australia A team, the Toowoomba all-rounder blasted a ton and took four wickets for the match against India, before backing it up the very next day in the Big Bash for the Brisbane Heat.
JAKE RYNNE (BOWLS)
Rynne rolled through 2020 in style.
The 17-year-old secured played a hand in Tweed Heads Queensland Premier League victory and lined up for Belmont in their State Pennants win.
The North Toowoomba Bushrangers bowler also claimed the Queensland Champion of Champions (Singles) title and was named in the Australia Emerging Jackaroos squad which puts him contention for a future Commonwealth Games appearance.
DECLAN TREZISE (CYCLING)
The Toowoomba cyclist had a blistering start to 2020, claiming gold in the Junior Men’s Criterium in Ballarat.
He finished the year on a similar high, earning his place as Australian champion in the U19 Team Pursuit, Scratch, Points, Madison and Omnium events.
GEORGIA VOLL (CRICKET)
Made her first-class debut for the Queensland Fire in January, taking two wickets as a 16-year-old.
This earned her a Brisbane Heat WBBL contract, where she made her debut midway through the season, playing her role in the side making the finals.
ZIMMORLEI FARQUHARSON/SAMSON RYAN (AUSSIE RULES)
Toowoomba’s Ryan and Dalby’s Farquharson will make the step up to the big leagues next year.
Ryan was picked up by the Richmond Tigers for the 2021 AFL season, with Farquharson based closer to home for the Brisbane Lions in the AFLW.
CARL JOCUMSEN (FISHING)
The pro angler went agonisingly close to securing his second Bassmaster Elite series win in October.
Nearly 10 months after his breakthrough Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Bassmaster Elite title win, Jocumsen finished second to Brandon Palaniuk.
Jocumsen led for two days of the four day Santee Cooper Lakes tournament before finishing 8 pounds behind Palaniuk’s 72 pound 2 ounce total.
Jocumsen has upped his game in 2020 and another Elite win isn’t too far away.
JAMIE LACEY (ATHLETICS)
The Toowoomba runner battled hot and windy conditions to conquer the GC50.
The 27-year-old won the 50km event in 3 hours, 3 minutes and 35 seconds with an average kilometre time of 3 minutes 41 seconds.
Gout Gout’s awesome foursome performance as GPS track and field records tumble
There was a Gout Gout awesome foursome performance and records tumbling throughout on a thrilling day of both senior and junior GPS track and field championship action. Full report here.
‘Career is basically gone’: Star goalkeeper’s NPL dream in strife
One of the NPL’s leading goalkeepers faces the tough decision of whether he continues to play in Australia after a shock Football Australia ruling was made which impacts Visa goalkeepers. Details here.
Australia’s next NBA star? Inside incredible rise of Kings rookie
From a tough, honest conversation with a high school coach, to a college basketball regular season title and now an NBL debut. Check out Jason Spurgin’s remarkable rise as he looks to build on a career he hopes will land him in the NBA.
Footy guns: The 30 Inclusion stars ready to shine for Twisters
A new group of touch footballers are ready to shine. Here’s our look at every Toowoomba Twisters player and their team mentors set to make their mark on the representative stage.
Ban on non-Aus goalkeepers puts international career under threat
A footballer’s international rep dreams hang in the balance after a bizarre Football Australia directive targeting just 1.5 per cent of the nation’s 192 elite goalkeepers. Find out about the crazy new ruling here.
REVEALED: Garden City stars set to shine on Pacific league stage
Toowoomba players could shape where the Pacific Championships trophy ends up with a number of players tied to the city in action. Find out who are new international league stars are here.