Raymond Terrace Athletics Club staged a community Nitro athletics carnival on July 18, with teams from all over the Hunter competing in three categories; 7-9 years, 10-12 years and 13-15 years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was the first time the Nitro event had been held outside of a major metropolitan city.
"The event does not require any participant to be registered with a little athletics club, just a desire to have fun, compete at their best, bring people together and make new friends," said organiser Sandra Hancock.
"Registration is free, and NSW Athletics provided officials, representative athletes to challenge, encourage and coach all competitors, and a DJ to keep everyone pumped up with great music all afternoon."
A boys team, formed by the U14/1 from Raymond Terrace Junior Rugby League team manager, claimed the gold medal in the 13-15 years Category 3.
The team, consisting of boys from four different schools, two different sports and three different clubs, was made up of Cody Hancock, Griffin Dunn, Tyler Romero, Lyji Vaggs, Loccie O'Brien and Brock Schuck.
The events were 60m sprint, 150m sprint, 800m, shot put, long jump, vortex throw then a 2x100m relay and a 2x100m/200m/400m relay medley.
"They competed in two events plus one relay leg each, and while they did not win every event, they placed in the top three in everything," Hancock said.
Griffin Dunn and Tyler Romero in the 2x100m relay, and Cody Hancock and Loccie O'Brien in the 60m sprint, competed against two representatives who have claimed medals on the world athletics stage - including Tyler Gunn - and finished a close second and third respectively in their events.
"Both got the opportunity to compete against Australia's athletics champions for the first time ever. They were awarded 1st and 2nd due to the national athletes competing for fun. Brock Schuck claimed a gold medal in his 150m heat, and Lyji Vaggs had a very close runner-up in 800m and Long Jump," Hancock said.
The team also claimed second in the medley relay with Brock Schuck and Loccie O'Brien running the 100m, Lyji Vaggs in the 200 and Cody Hancock in the 400."
Registration days for Raymond Terrace Athletics Club will be conducted on Saturdays, August 17, 24 and 31 from 11am till 2pm at the club's home field in Kangaroo Street.
All are welcome to attend.