Little athletes on their way to national champs

FIVE young Ballarat athletes are pumped and ready to pit themselves against some of the nation’s best at the Australian Little Athletics Championships in Adelaide this weekend.

Held annually, the three-day championships offer national competition opportunities for athletes in the under-13 to under-15 age groups, including multi-class.

The competition is team-based, with each age group team made up of 16 boys and 16 girls (able-bodied) and eight multi-class athletes.

Athletes selected generally compete in multiple events given the nature of the competition and restrictions on the number of athletes selected.

The five Ballarat athletes are Archer Spackman, who will compete in the under-13 boys, Lual Shakira and Paige Tuddenham (both under-14 girls), Kiana Jenkins (under-15 girls), and Eleanor Downey (under-15 multi-class).

Downey will participate in six events, including the 100m, 200m 400m, 800m, long jump and shot put, while Jenkins will compete in three – 300m hurdles, 400m and medley relay.

Spackman will see action in the 800m and 1500m, Tuddenham will tackle the 800m and 1500m, while Lual has her sights on the 400m and medley relay.

Two club members – Downey and Shakira – will be competing at the Little Athletics nationals for the second straight year.

Ballarat Little Athletics secretary Sam Gent said the club was proud to have five members competing in Adelaide.

“We are very fortunate to have grown our numbers this year to five athletes,” she said.

“Two years ago, we had Eleanor go and last year we had four athletes go, and now it’s up to five.

“It is certainly an aim of our committee to encourage our athletes at that state level to self-nominate and give them that experience at national level.”

Gent said some of the club’s athletes were coming off great performances at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth earlier this month.

“We are very proud that they are not only continuing their Little Athletics, but also competing at a senior level as well,” Gent said.

“Certainly, in terms of individual performances, they did really well in Perth, with many personal bests.

“Eleanor (Downey) in her six events came home with two silvers and a bronze, while the other four athletes produced some nice PBs without medalling.

“They did themselves really proud, which I am sure they will do again in Adelaide.

“It’s a quick turnaround. We also had the Stawell Gift on the weekend, which Archer competed in.”

More than 500 athletes are expected to compete for individual medals and team trophies in Adelaide.

Gent said the five athletes were excited by the opportunity to compete at a national event and represent Little Athletics Victoria and their local centre and town of Ballarat.

“BLAC [Ballarat Little Athletics Centre] has invested in the support of the athletes financially this year and over the past three years, and the number of athletes nominating and selecting has increased,” she said.

BLAC is a family friendly, community-based centre that fosters the inclusion of athletes of all abilities, supports and encourages individual growth and development in athletics track and field events, and welcomes participants with experience or no experience in athletics.

The 2024-25 season saw more than 220 registered athletes compete, with the weekly program coordinated entirely by volunteers.