IPSWICH is on track to showcase stars at the next two Olympics with the Ipswich Athletics Club set to boom in membership numbers.
President Vic Pascoe told Local Ipswich News the club currently had 160 members on the books in a great sign for both the club and the future of track and field.
And this comes just two months into the new season, with the peak number of members being in March, with Mr Pascoe predicting those numbers to crack 200.
The Australian All School Championships are set to be held at QSAC running from December 6-8, with athletes having qualified first or second in last month’s Queensland All Schools Championships.
Ipswich Athletics will have a strong contingent this week, with the following athletes qualifying.
The team struck gold with Diva Ejembi in the U14 high jump with a jump of 1.59m, Abbey Crocker in the U14 shot put (12.19m), Hayley Windolf with a personal best throw of 12.86m in the U15 shot put, and Christina Tukafu with a 38.99m throw in the U15 discus.
Alira Takau broke the U18 shot put age record throw with 16.32m and Dakota Stewart made it three golds from three U17 events: 800m, 2000m steeplechase and as a member of the 1600m medley relay.
The silver was flowing also, with Emily Bolden in the under 14 hammer recording a personal best of 33.10m, Sophie McGeehan with a personal best of 1.56m in the U14 high jump, Sasha Josipovic completed the U15 2000m Steeplechase in 7.20.93, Addison Hayne with a personal best jump of 5.43m in the U15 long jump, and Saskia Jospiovic in the U17 shot put (14.03m) and discus (44.40).
The campaign was highlighted by rising U16 star Addison Farinazzo who competed in five events, winning three and setting age records in two, qualifying for a fourth and recording a personal best in the last event even though she finished fifth.
Her age records were broken in 200m hurdles (28.42), 90m hurdles (12.88), while she was also involved as part of the 1000m medley relay team and a second place qualifying spot in the 400m (57.14).
Ruby Bohen competed in three U15 events qualifying in two, recording a personal best in all three and an age record in one. Bohen placed third in discus (37.16m), second in the shot put (12.53m) and an age record breaking throw of 45.92m in the javelin.
Sophie Whitfield competed in three U14 events setting a personal best in all three while qualifying for the Australian competition in one – 80m hurdles (4th in 13.39), 200m (3rd in 26.11) and second in the 100m in a time of 12.87.
All eyes are sure to be on the Australian All Schools Championship as it sets the tone for the Australian Athletics Championships to be held in Perth in April next year.
