Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Cross Country Gold For Super Mackay Athletes

Mackay Athletics Club runners have performed with distinction at major carnivals staged in Brisbane and the Whitsundays over the past fortnight.

Talented siblings Oliver and Toby Rule upstaged their decorated father Justin Rule after capturing gold medals at the Athletics North Queensland Cross Country Championships at Airlie Beach last Sunday.

18-year-old Oliver won the 8km race for Under 20s while kid brother Toby, 16, clinched a thrilling 6km event for Under 17s by 0.03 sec to claim a family milestone.

Their accomplished father Justin, the 2022 Athletics North Queensland Masters Athlete of the Year, picked up a silver medal in the Masters 8km race – just seven days after collecting 3000m Steeplechase gold and 8km bronze at the Australian Masters Athletics Championships in Sydney.

Liam Mumford celebrated a gold medal triumph in the Open 10km event while Abigail Sweeney grabbed a silver medal in the 4km Under 17s race.

Strong performances were also turned in by Aleshia Ware in the Open Race and Alliah Fallon and Isabella Read in the Under 13/14s division.

At the recent Queensland State Track & Field Athletics Championships held at the Sport and Athletics Centre in Brisbane, sprint queen Mikayla Webb brought home a silver medal for the 100m and bronze in the 200m in the Under 17s category.

Another dual medal recipient was Hayley Colless, who grabbed two bronze medals in the 90m hurdles and 200m hurdles for Under 15s competitors.

Other notable performances were turned in by Toby Rule, who finished sixth in the Under 17s 1500m with a personal best time of 4 min 10 sec and sixth in the Steeplechase, shaving 29 seconds off his PB.

Isabella Webb finished fifth in her Under 15s 100m heat and 13th overall preliminary; Damon Brown came fifth in his Open 100m heat and 20th overall while Trae O’Brien finished seventh in the Under 14s Long Jump and fifth in his 100m heat and 10th overall.

Gold rush for promising siblings Oliver Rule and Toby Rule

Oliver Rule, 18, claims gold in the Under 20s 8km event

Liam Mumford strides to victory and a well-earned gold in the Open 10km race

Abigail Sweeney grabs a silver medal in the 4km Under 17s race

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