Latest Newsletter

July 2024

Dear members and families.

We hope you have enjoyed our first half of our season. Here's some news on what we have going on for the next half of the season.

UPCOMING CLUB DAYS AND EVENTS

Club Days
- July 6, 13, 20, 27 (Green & Gold Day), August 3 (Interclub Meet), 17, 24, 31, September 7
Carnivals
- Bowen T&F Carnival 10-11 August, Longreach T&F Carnival 17-18 August
Championships
- NQ T&F Championships 27-29 September - Townsville
School Events
- Mackay District Trials - 18-19 July, Capricornia Trials - 19-20 August
Register for...
- Steeplechase 6 July, Long Hurdles 13 July, Short Hurdles 20 July.

Link to our online event calender

GREEN & GOLD DAY - Saturday 27 July

We're going Green & Gold on Saturday 27 July, in support of the Australian Olympic Team. The official Australian Green and Gold day is Friday 2 August, but were not around that day, so lets get off the mark early (won't be counted as a false start), and show our team spirit to share with the Aus Olympic Team. If you can, come dressed with Green & Gold at our club day Saturday 27 July.

MACKAY INTERCLUB MEET - Saturday 3 August

It's our turn in hosting an Interclub Meet, where we invite athletes from across local athletics clubs to particiapte in a four event program club day. The event is free for our members and visiting members from other athletics clubs.

Online registration is simple and can be done up until 7pm Friday 2 August. Click here for the details and registration link.

NEW TRAINING OPPORTUNITY with DAVE LESTER from SLEAK SQUAD

Mackay Athletics Club are pleased to welcome Dave Lester to our coaching roster.

Dave Lester (head coach of Sleak Squad) as a level 3 Performance Development Coach, comes to us with a wealth of knowledge across a range of athletic events.

Dave will be conducting sessions on Tuesdays at the MARC from 4:45pm-5:45pm. MAC Members Only.

Please check our Facebook page for cancellations where Dave may be unavilable due to his work.

9 July – Sprints
16 July – Long Jump and/or Triple Jump
23 July – High Jump
30 July – Sprints
6 Aug – Long jump and/or triple jump
13 Aug – High Jump
20 Aug – Sprints
27 Aug – Long Jump and/or Triple Jump
3 Sept – High Jump

2024 BOWEN TRACK & FIELD CARNIVAL - Sat-Sun 10-11 August

This is a great carnival that our club attends hosted by the Bowen Athletics Club. We don't hold a club day on that weekend, so a great opportunity to attend. The registration link will be available soon and we will put on our website. As with all regional carnivals, our club is given a field event to run over the weekend. All club attendees must assist in the field event at some time over the weekend.

2024 OCEANIA ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

5 Mackay Club Members and 3 Mackay Officials attend the 2024 Oceania Track & Field Championships held in Fiji during May. Here are some of their highlights.

First up during the week was the women's pole vault.

Kasey McCahon came 4th in the Open Women's Pole Vault, clearing 3.20m.

Kayce Hoani-Vincent came 5th in the Under 18 Women's Pole Vault, clearing 2.80m.

Both are coached by Paul Hallett of Altitude Pole Vault North Queensland

Taking on the Under 18 women's sprints was Mikayla Webb.

She won her 100m heat in 12.19s, then ran 12.21s in the final to claim the silver medal

Mikayla next pulled on the spikes for her 200m heat, running 3rd in 25.54s to qualify for the final. She ran 4th in the final in a time of 24.85s.

Lastly Mikayla was also selected for the 4x100m relay team. The team got the baton around but unfortunately suffered a DQ.

Mikayla is coached by Leanne Hines-Smith.

The senior men lacing up for the sprints faced extremely stiff competition.

Ngakau Ufton faced the Flying Mullet, Australian 100m record holder Rohan Browning, in his 100m heat. He ran 11.62s for 5th.

Damon Brown faced the eventual Oceania champion Josh Azzopardi in his 100m heat. He ran 3rd in 11.01s to qualify to semi. He faced Josh again in the semi to run 6th in 10.99s.

Both men then backed up in the 200m. Ngakau ran 23.02s for 6th in his heat to qualify to the semis, where he drew eventual Oceania champ Calab Law. Ngakau finished 7th in 23.13s.

Damon raced Calab in his heat to finish 3rd in 22.70s, also qualifying to semis. He ran 22.45s in his semi to finish 5th.

Ngakau & Damon were both selected for the 4x100m team, which finished 4th in 43.61s.

Ngakau was also selected for the 4x400m relay, helping his RA team to the bronze medal

in 3.40.63

Damon & Ngakau are both coached by Dave Lester of SLEAK Squad

Toby Rule tackled the Under 18 Men's distance events.

First up was the 1500m in which he ran 4.24.81 for 8th. Second event was the 3000m, which Toby ran 9.21.60 for 5th. Steeple was third up, with Toby finishing 5th in 6.26.71.

Then to his complete surprise, Toby was selected for the mixed 4x400m team, running a PB & picking up a bronze medal

Toby is coached by Ryan & Genevieve Gregson of Gregson Running

Last but not least, well done to our fabulous officials, who have had a very interesting week indeed!

Trudie - track starter

Kirsty - field official

Belinda Rule - Regiaonal Australia Team Coach