Hunter Sports Complex will be a hive of activity from Thursday with hundreds of athletes due to turn out for the NSW Country Championships and Hunter Track Classic.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The two events, which individually are main attractions on the NSW athletics calendar, will for the first time be held together at the Glendale centre between January 24 and 27.
“This will create an even larger, more dynamic event,” Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said. “The direct and flow-on benefits to our city are immense.
“An event of this scale and nature generates tourism, encourages a fit and active lifestyle, promotes sporting participation and reinforces the Hunter Sports Centre’s standing as one of the state’s premier athletics facilities”.
Athletes will have extra incentive to chase down Australian records at Friday’s Hunter Track Classic.
Newcastle-based sports store Pure Performance is putting up a $5000 prize which will go to any athlete that can break an Australia record or best time during the classic.
“One of the objectives of Athletics NSW has always been to improve the health and fitness of the citizens of NSW. The Hunter Track Classic and the Country Championships go a long way to achieve this goal,” Athletics NSW president Dr Peter Higgins said.
“The Hunter Track Classic is one of the premiere events on the Athletics NSW calendar.
“It is a unique event because we are bringing a combination of glitz, glamour, and high performance athletics combined with community athletes of all ages.”
Australian middle distance runner Joseph Deng broke a near 50-year-old Australian record in the men’s 800m during the Monaco Diamond League event on July 20, 2018 and would be the red hot favourite to beat Lachlan Renshaw’s Australian record in the men’s 600m, set back in 2010, during the Hunter Track Classic.
Deng’s main competition will be is training partner Peter Bol, whom he just best to the Australian 800m, and 2013 Australian 400m champion Alex Beck.
“I think this year’s Hunter Track Classic is going to be the best yet as Australia’s best athletes make their assault on two Australian records right in our own back yard,” Jason Maxwell, director of Pure Performance, said.
Commonwealth Games 800m bronze medallist Luke Mathews is one in a quality field set to line up in the 1500m.
He will be challenged by Jordan Gusman who was second in the 1500m in 2017.
Interest will be centred on Lake Macquarie junior Luke Young who competed at the 2018 Youth Olympics Games.
Tickets for the Hunter Track Classic are $7 for children and $13 for adults, available at the gate.
