ANYONE sampling live athletics for the first time at next week’s Hunter Track Classic will be so close they can almost feel it, organisers say.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Seven Rio Olympians and 10 Paralympians will be among 300 athletes at the Hunter Sports Centre, Glendale meet, including wheelchair racers Kurt Fearnley and Christie Dawes, hurdler Michelle Jenneke and women’s shock 4x400 metre finalists Morgan Mitchell and Anneliese Rubie.
In a crowd-friendly move, the first hour will be devoted to field events with spectators invited onto the arena.
“We want spectators to be able to get close and appreciate just how good these athletes are,” organiser and Rio marathon runner Scott Westcott said.
“It looks completely different when you’re standing next to a bloke who throws a shot put 20 metres. Hearing the ‘thud’ and seeing the dirt fly is completely different to seeing it on TV.”
Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser said she expected the meet to eclipse last year’s attendance of 2,000.
The classic starts at 6pm next Saturday, January 28.
