It is still early stages in the 2019/2020 Athletics season, which runs from October to April, but that hasn’t stopped UNSW's athletes from putting down some impressive performances.
It is still early stages in the 2019/2020 Athletics season, which runs from October to April, but that hasn’t stopped UNSW's athletes from putting down some impressive performances. With most of the sprint team guided by UNSW Head Coach, Brian Wright, there has been a hugely positive resurgence of the UNSW Athletics Club.
Top highlights of the 2019/2020 season so far include:
In a truly world-class performance, John Gikas ran 45.87 over 400m, making him the 2nd fastest Australian since 2012, which looks promising for Olympic selection. This was particularly impressive given his 100m/200m background, yet the modest UNSW student took a measured approach to his breakthrough performance: “It was an encouraging run," he told Athletics NSW. "I felt good and I pulled up well but it’s a long season. So right now we’re just focused on the next run one step at a time."
In 40°C heat at Bankstown All-Comers, Leonard King delivered an equally scorching performance, clocking 21.09 in the 200m. This too places him high in the Australian sprint rankings. There was all-round success for UNSW sprinters, with nearly all setting 100m/200m PBs and all winning their respective 200m heats – a testament to the depth of our sprints squad. Ben Quinn also ran a solid 1:52.14 in the Albie Thomas 800m Elite Race.
The NSW Relay Championships was a fantastic weekend for UNSW, resulting in one gold (Sprint Medley) and two bronze medals (4 x 200, 4 x 400). The Sprint Medley relay was the highlight, with Ben Quinn running a fantastic anchor leg to secure the victory over rivals USyd.
UNSW showed its strength at the Grass Games with Bryce Collins and Susie Douglas taking home Gold in the Male and Female 300m respectively.
At the St George Gift, Teo Yan stormed home for the win in the Gift final while Eli Hall came in 3rd. In the Novice final, Remo Pascale and Chris Li placed 2nd and 3rd respectively. At the Queanbeyan Gift, Leonard King placed 3rd in the Gift final while Chris Li was a close 2nd in the Novice final.
2020 will be an exciting year for the UNSW Athletics Club as our athletes look towards the various Track Classics, State Championships, National Championships (Olympic Trials) and the time-honoured Stawell Gift.
Want to be part of it all? Contact UNSW Athletics Club for more info!
This article originally appeared on the Arc UNSW website.