GET SET: Orange Little Athletics members (from left) Keegan Willis, Xavier Bland and Logan Whiteley are looking forward to this weekend's Little Athletics NSW State Multi-Event Championships in Orange where they will compete in the under 7s boys' division. Photo: MICHELLE COOK 0225mcmulti1
OVER 700 children will be trying to run, jump and throw their way to a NSW title in Orange this weekend.
The Orange Little Athletics Club will host the Little Athletics NSW State Multi-Event Championship at Waratahs Sports Club today and tomorrow.
There are 775 children registered to compete in the NSW event and Orange Little Athletics president Michelle Whiteley said the wet weather wouldn’t stop them.
“It won’t make a difference,” Whiteley explained.
“It goes ahead rain, hail or shine. The only thing that would stop us is lightning.”
The state multi-event attracts boys and girls from across NSW to compete in age divisions ranging from under 7s to under 17s.
To win a medal competitors need to be consistent across a range of disciplines.
Athletes compete in six events and are awarded points based on their results in each.
After the six events, the athlete with the most points wins their age division.
Whiteley said Orange athletes have the potential to feature on the podium.
“We certainly are competitive,” she said.
“The event includes sprints, jumping, throwing and some distance running, so you’ve got to be an all-rounder.”
Orange will have around 65 athletes competing.
Whiteley conceded this week’s rain may make the Waratahs running track slower than usual but she was confident it would drain well and wouldn’t cause any problems.
Those in the under 15 categories will have something extra to compete for with two boys and two girls from the age division selected from the multi-event to compete in the Australian Little Athletics Championships.
The under 15s compete in the 100m sprint, 90m hurdles, 800m, long jump, shot put and discus.
Competition starts at 9.30am today and 9am tomorrow.