Bellarine Athletics well represented at All Schools

EIGHT Bellarine Athletics Club junior athletes will take to the national stage in the hopes of being named All School champions.

Miller Smith, Bruno Parfitt, Jack Unthank, Josh Unthank, Erin Foley, Noah Burns, Josh Payne and Campbell Braden are aiming to put their best feet forward and be crowned national champions at the Australian All School Track & Field Championships in Adelaide from December 9-11.

Club treasurer Chris Unthank said the club was extremely proud of the efforts made by all eight of the junior representatives in the lead-up to selection.

“When you take into consideration the fact that we have just hit out to our biggest membership year to date with 55 members, eight of which are heading to the All School Championships, is really significant for the juniors,” Unthank said.

According to the treasurer, the All Schools team is extremely hard to be selected to given it’s the top two athletes of each event at the state titles that go through to the final national event.

The eight juniors will help form a team of 231 talented and optimistic Victorian athletes, representing the “Big V”, the first time in three years the team has competed at the event.

“It is fantastic to see National All Schools return, it has always been a great celebration of young, up-and-coming talent,” state team manager Tom Gamble said.

“There have been some outstanding individual performances witnessed at All Schools from previous years, that have been the first step of success for many of our current Open athletes.

“It is also such a perfect reward for the students to participate in a high-performance meet, once all their exams and school commitments have completed.

“What a great opportunity for these athletes to finish 2022 on a positive note.”

Unthank added that each athlete and their family will travel to the three-day meet, but within the SA Athletics Stadium, many friendships are formed within the Victorian team.

“The community from a state point of view is going to be really strong for these athletes,” he said.

“When you get to any competition, you always have the full support of the team with you and behind you.

“Yes, the kids are excited to represent the Bellarine, but they are just as excited to represent the state.”

Miller Smith will take on the Under 15 Boys 100m Sprint, 100m Hurdles and 200m Hurdles. Bruno Parfitt is an Under 16 Hammer Throw competitor. Brothers Josh and Jack Unthank will test their endurance in the Under 16 Boys 800m and 1,500m runs.

Erin Foley is to compete in the Under 17s Girls 400m Hurdle. Noah Burns is locked for the Under 17 Boys Pole Vault. Josh Payne is a part of the Under 18s Long Jump event and Campbell Braden will go for gold in the Pole Vault as well.