Athletics

That’s Allora’s Matthew Denny who is currently in Paris for the Olympic Games. In 2015 Matthew made his Senior Debut with the Australia Team for the World University Games. Since then Matthew has been improving with each national competition and breaking records along the way.

This huge mural of Matthew Denny has attracted plenty of attention in Allora since being completed last Friday. The mural, commissioned by Qantas, has been painted on the side of the Railway Hotel.

One of Naracoorte’s champion athletes, Jessica Stenson, nee Trengrove, is off to Paris to represent the country’s women’s marathon team in the 2024 Olympic Games next month. Born and bred in the small town of Naracoorte, South Australia, Jessica, a medal-winning marathon runner, was selected by Athletics Australia for the team after weeks of controversy and recriminations.

The trail blazing Limestone Coast Regional Sporting Academy has created a blueprint for other regions around South Australia. Talented athletes, including nine from the Naracoorte Lucindale area, are emerging as not only high performers in various sports, but as young leaders and role models for their peers and the community.

Wilson McShane. Twenty-three hours and 56 minutes. A lot can be achieved in this time, but few can say they have run 100 miles, or about 160 kilometres, in such a short timeframe. But this is what Kadina man Scott Martin achieved on Saturday, May 13, when he won the Irrational SOUTH 100 Miler through the Flinders Ranges.

Matthew Denny thrilled the crowds at the Australian Athletics Championships held in Adelaide over the weekend. Producing his best effort, Matthew threw a huge 69.35 metres which added over one metre to his previous top throw and creating a National Record.

Cassie Fikri from The Yard Narrandera won the women’s all round half marathon at Batemans Bay at the weekend. Her time was one hour and 39 minutes, which is a personal best for her.

Northern Grampians Shire Council has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the Stawell Gift, signing a significant four-year partnership agreement with Stawell Gift Event Management afternoon that will see the council invest $400,000 in the prestigious Australian athletics carnival over the next four years.

The 2023 Yamba Triathlon was held in prefect weather conditions producing excellent racing over the weekend with Yamba local Keanu Staader securing the victory in the highly competitive Men’s Open division. Staader won in a time of one hour, two minutes and 49 seconds, from Ben Russell in second (1.04.06) and Jake Russell (1.04.55).

Patrick Goldsmith. Point Turton’s Hugo Taheny has been named as one of 11 ambassadors from across the country for International Day of People with Disability ... An elite athlete with a haul of accolades to his name, including two gold medals at the Virtus Global Games in Vichy, France, earlier this year, Mr Taheny was invited to take on the role by the federal government, alongside lawyers, writers, artists and academics.

Alyssa Walker. An empty throne; a kingless crown; a floating title. It’s been a long 35-years for Jim Russell and Sue Hart atop the rocky seat of Mount Wycheproof, but, last Saturday, that reign came to an end. Word spread quickly about the ruler usurped, and, with the crown up for grabs, people flooded into the home of the Demons, sights hungrily set on claiming the title of the next King and Queen of the Mountain.

Pam Dillon. Last week, 13 students from seven remote schools represented the Barkly in the NT Athletics Championships in Darwin. The students participated in a variety of running, jumping, and throwing events over three days along with athletes from other regions and athletic clubs across the territory.

Matthew has cemented his status as one of the world’s premier athletes after being crowned champion at the Diamond League Final in Eugene, USA with an Australian record of 68.43 meters. This is the first time for Matthew to be crowned Diamond League Champion. He added 19cm to his Australian discus record to produce the throw of his life and seal his triumph.

Allora P-10 Student Ellie Pidgeon was named the most outstanding Girl Athlete at the Darling Downs Track and Field Championship held in Toowoomba for both junior and secondary aged students. Ellie came first in three events...

Australia’s premier discus thrower Matthew Denny has etched his name into the history books, breaking a decade-long national record before settling for an agonising fourth place at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

Patrick Goldsmith. Point Turton’s Hugo Taheny has brought home an impressive medal haul after representing Australia at the 2023 Virtus Global Games in Vichy, France. The first time he has competed overseas, Taheny claimed a gold medal in shot-put and broke his own world record twice, finishing with 11.98 metres.

Olympic and World Champions descended on Doha last Friday for the Opening of the 2023 Wanda Diamond League Season. This is the start of the international Athletics Season which brings together the world’s biggest names in track and field, including eight Australians led by a distance duo and a discus giant in the form of Allora’s Matthew Denny.

It has been a whirlwind ride to the top for former Cohuna lad, Jamie Harrison. The 22-year-old competed in the Australian Track & Field Championships in Brisbane at the weekend making it through to the finals of the 800m event ... Jamie has advice for Cohuna and district youngsters who are keen on athletics.

A momentous celebration of the outstanding accolades achieved by our most talented athletes, sports clubs, and local sports personnel; the 2022 Clarence Valley Sports Awards drew a large crowd to the Grafton District Services Club (GDSC) on February 11 ... an initiative of the Clarence Valley Sports Councils, and showcases the immense strength and skills of the local sporting community, and the dedicated locals who continuously support it.

The first Australian athletes to qualify for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships have visited the course in Bathurst on 16 January 2023, just over a month out from the event ... "Bathurst is known for adrenaline-fuelled sporting achievements, and the World Athletics Cross Country Championships will be right at home at Mount Panorama with more than 500 athletes competing from 68 nations": Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole.

Cambooya para athletes Kyrna and Tomas Crump have come home from the Queensland school athletics championships in Brisbane with bags full of medals ... Without putting too much pressure on the pair, the next Paralympics, in Paris, are less than two years away.