2017/18 LITTLE ATHLETICS Championship Dates and explanations
Apart from our Friday night competitions, Little Athletics offers the opportunity to compete against other clubs in Championships as outlined below. Please read through the following information carefully. Further information and dates will follow in the weekly bulletins
State Relay Championships
The State relays are held in late November at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre,
Athletics is mostly an individual sport, State Relays is the one major
carnival where athletes compete in a team of 4 and all their
performances are added together to make the team score. Of course
4x100 is included, but there is also a 4x400 (or 4x200 in the 8s and 9s
as they don’t run a 400 at Little Athletics so this is the substitute
event) which has two boys and two girls from the age group, this is the
only mixed gender event. For middle distance runners there is a
multi age 4x800m relay (on the junior day the U8 competitor runs 700m).
In field events there is a jumps relay - 4 x long jump in U8 and U9 and
4 x long/high with 2 competitors contesting long jump and 2 contesting
high jump in the other age groups. There is also a 4 x shot/discus relay
in all age groups.
State Relays is the biggest carnival run by Little Athletics. It
is held at Sydney Olympic Park in late November each year
with the U8 to U11’s competing on the Saturday and the U12
to U15’s competing on the Sunday.
For some of our younger
athletes, it might be the first time they have competed at the venue.
It is a great event to be involved in with teams from centres all over
the state.
Cherrybrook picks the teams via a nomination process. Nominations will open early October, so start
talking among the age group now to try and get an enthusiastic and
strong group nominating.
Zone
Championships
The North Metropolitan Zone Championship is
held in mid December and is the first step on the way to the State
Championship in March. You MUST compete at zone in order to qualify through to
Region and then qualify through to the State Championship.
Zone Championship is open to all athletes from U7-U17.
Athletes in the U7 age group do not progress any further and receive
medals if they come 1st, 2nd or 3rd at Zone.
Athletes who place in the top 6 in any event automatically qualify to
the Region Championship.
Rules for Zone - athletes from U7-U12 can only compete in 4 individual events and are subject to selection. Therefore when nominating your preferences will be taken into consideration. Cherrybrook is only able to put 5 athletes into each event at zone. This is generally done based on best performances within the agegroup
Athletes from U13-U17 may compete in up to 6 individual events and are not subject to selection. We can enter as many athletes as nominate. (This is because there are less senior athletes registered and competing).
Athletes will be entered only if they fill in a nomination form. Zone nominations will be available in late October.
The Zone Championships program has been up on the Cherrybrook website for some time
Mark the date now in your calendar so that Cherrybrook has a large team.
Regional Championships
Athletes qualify from the Zone carnival above. This is the final
championship carnival for the U8 age group and is held in February.
Athletes who come 1st or 2nd automatically qualify
for the State Championship. The next best 8 athletes from across
the state will also achieve qualification. These athletes will be
notified on about 26 February, following the completion of all the
region carnivals.
State Track & Field Championships
Qualification is through the zone and region pathway listed above for
U9-17 age groups and is usually held on the third full weekend in March each
year at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre.
Friday night events begin at 5pm and continue to about 9pm.
Parents are encouraged to have a look at the State program to ensure your child
is available on the date the event is scheduled at State. The State
program being run over 3 days with 24 competitors in each event is a big
schedule and there are some clashes. For details click on the
following link:
State Track & Field Championship
This will give you more information regarding the State Championships
and the complete program for each day.
Australian Little Athletics Championships
Athletes are selected in the
U13 age group, based on performances from the
State Championships. Only 22 athletes are selected, so in most cases
athletes are selected who are able to achieve highly at state in more
than 1 event. Cherrybrook has had club members in this team almost every
season over the past 10 years. ALAC involves 2 training camps as well as
the championships. Good luck to this year’s Under 13s.
The gold and silver medalists from the
U15 State Multi Event
championship are also selected for this National
Championship. More details on the state multi event in a future
newsletter.
Follow the link below for more information, or speak to Craig Little or
Jenny Bishop who have both had children
Australian Little Athletics Championships
State Multi-Event Championships
State Multi-Event Championships are held on the first full weekend in March each year usually at a Country venue. .
This
is a multi event competition for individual competitors.
Each athlete competes in 6 events - 3 on
each day.
Times and distances are converted to points
which are added together to determine the placegetters.
Events vary slightly for each age group, so click on the link for full details:
State Multi-Event Championships
State Cross-Country & Road Walk Championships
The State Cross Country & Road Walks are held on the first Sunday in July each
year.
State Cross Country is open online entry for athletes ages U7-U17, and Road
walks is open for age groups from U9’s and up. The venue alternates between a
Sydney and a regional course each year. Athletes compete over various distances
depending on age from 800m up to 4km. Click on the link for more details:
State Cross-Country & Road Walk Championships
Is your child in the Under 11 or Under 12 Age Group - READ THIS
Trans Tasman
The Trans Tasman is for athletes in the U11 and U12 age groups, from both NSW and Auckland. Every second year, a team from NSW (boys and girls in both the U11 and U12 age groups), travel to Auckland for the Trans Tasman Tour. On alternate years, a team from Auckland travels to Sydney.
The Trans Tasman Trials for selection are held early November each year. Athletes must trial in 2 track events and 2 field events. All the details are available on the link and I recommend you read it thoroughly
NOTE: Entries close in October.
Only ONLINE entries
will be accepted.
Events offered for both Home and Away Tour Trials
are 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put and
Discus.
For further information click on the following
link:
Trans Tasman Athletics Tour
A number of parents have had children involved with Trans Tasman including myself, so feel free to reply to this email with any questions.
For further information regarding Championships, please contact Jenny
Bishop via email:
jenbishop@optusnet.com.au
or speak to one of the other Championship assistants Daven Timms and
Trish Hirst, or speak to Cathy Eaton who has been our championships
officer for the past few years.
Jenny Bishop
Championships Officer Cherrybrook Little Athletics