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Albany Little Athletics Club named top club at WA Country Championships on handicap in Bunbury

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Albany Little Athletics Club in Bunbury.
Camera IconAlbany Little Athletics Club in Bunbury.

Albany Little Athletics Club returned from a brilliant Little Athletics WA Country Championships held in Bunbury as the top club on handicap last month.

A total of 42 athletes from Albany attended the three day competition from January 15-17, with the event attracting more than 400 competitors ranging from ages 5-16.

Albany came home with 30 gold medals, 37 silver and 43 bronze as a team. This effort helped them finish third on the overall points leader board behind Bunbury and Eastern Goldfields.

However, when this tally was recalculated on a handicap basis to take into account centres with fewer athletes, Albany was announced as the top club.

Under-11 competitor Mitchell Eley runs in the 800m event.
Camera IconUnder-11 competitor Mitchell Eley runs in the 800m event.

ALAC president Naomi Cooper said the club was absolutely thrilled with the result.

“To travel to Bunbury with 42 athletes from only 100 registered was an achievement in itself,” she said.

“But to then compete at such a high standard against much bigger athletics clubs is something we are all very proud of.

“It was very hot in Bunbury and for some of our younger athletes this was their first exposure to broader competition, on long event days, so we think they all were amazing.”

Albany Little Athletics Club at the official March pass.
Camera IconAlbany Little Athletics Club at the official March pass.

Athletes that won gold or silver in individual events can now qualify for the Little Athletics WA State Championships, where children from country centres compete against the best athletes from Perth centres.

The WA Championships will be held on March 19-21 at the WA Athletics Stadium and athletes are training hard in their chosen events in preparation.

“Last year, we had our families literally on the road to Perth when the call came through that the event had been cancelled due to COVID-19,” Cooper said.

“It was devastating for them, so we have everything crossed that this year we can get up there to compete and come away with some State champions.”

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