JUMP-START: James Sutherland enjoys a smooth landing in his long jump event. Photo: LUKE SCHUYLER 0302lsaths1
TWO days of competition, just shy of 700 athletes and a phenomenal standard of athletics - the 2013 State Multi-Event Championship is done and dusted for another year and, for some, the event was an eye-opener.
Attracting the best young athletes in NSW, the Orange Little Athletics Club hosted the state multi event with great success.
And its athletes did just as well.
With a 60-strong representation at Waratah Sportsground, the Orange club’s star was under 10 girls competitor Phoebe Litchfield.
Litchfield finished fourth in her age group, accruing 4366 points thanks to a consistent showing throughout the shot-put, long jump, discus, hurdles, 200-metre and 800-metre runs, proving the country kids can mix it with the more fancied metro athletes.
Orange Little A’s president Michelle Whiteley was extremely proud of her athletes as well as those who gave up their time to help co-ordinate the event, one of the biggest on the Athletics NSW calendar.
“Our kids did alright,” Whiteley said.
“As is the case with most of these multi events, we were astounded by the calibre and quality of some of the top athletes in the state.
“In the local competitions the kids are generally at the top, they’re up with it anyway. But when the top kids descend on your area, it’s quite an eye-opener.”
“We held our own though.”
April Rich was another one of the strong Orange athletes at the multi event finishing eighth in the under 14 girls.
Whiteley said the competition was extremely fierce, with athletes coming from right across the state - namely strong clubs in Winston Hills, Kings Langley and Western Suburbs - to compete at the Orange-hosted event.
“Anybody and everybody can compete,” Whiteley said.
