State 3K Championships November 9th at SOPAC - spectacular results

It was an enthralling night of racing at the NSW 3000m Championship with most of us on our feet cheering on our athletes who were on the hunt for personal bests. Conditions however were far from ideal. The temperature did drop with the arrival of the cool change which also brought a gusty head wind blowing down the home straight.

Lachlan and Josh, shoe experts, superstars, friends and rivals limber up.

 First up was the Men’s H race with Michael Halmy (Bethany and Adam’s dad), David Jagger (Ben’s dad) and our president, Joe Degabrielle sporting his new spikes. Michael was first home in 11.42 while David held off our president.

 

 In the Men’s G race, Dan Cooper limped off the track mid-race through the race after injuring his hamstring. We wish him a speedy recovery, hopefully in time to run in next weekend’s State Relays. New member, 17 year old Joe Jones, in his track debut came second in 10.14.08 while 15 year old Ben Jagger ran a PB of 10.28.82 not far behind.

Left to right: Ben Jagger, Dan Cooper before he hurt his hamstring and Joe Jones

It's exciting to see your result on the board.

12 year old Tom Davies ran a personal best of 10.15.39 in the Men’s F race. Incidentally, Tom ran faster tonight than Josh Phillips when Josh was 12.



Tom Davies up with the big guys

14 year old Lachlan Cooper launched his usual late run for glory with 600m to go and finished second with a time of 9.09.33 in the Men’s D race which had most of us thinking this was going to be the fastest time of the night. Behind Lachlan, Adam Halmy ran a solid 9.38.70.

 

The start of the men's D race

 

Look at the effort: Adam Halmy and Lachlan Cooper

The series of men’s races were interrupted by the Women’s C race which was won by 12 year old Sophie Gocher on her debut in the event. Sophie took the lead in the last kilometer and came home in 11.06.06. Not far behind was another 12 year old, Olivia Hogg again in her debut finished strongly in fifth place in 11.20.10. Another 300m behind was one Caroline Yarnell, the only Senior Female Strider and the oldest female competitor in the event finished in 12.25.85.

 

The start of the C race

 

Sophie Gocher who ran 11:06:06 to win the race

Olivia Hogg has just overtaken no. 12

The men’s C race was arguably the highlight of the evening which featured 14 year old Josh Phillips, 17 year old David Gardiner, Joe Burgess who recently left us to join Sydney University and one Nick Bromley whose Little Athletics 3000m record was broken by Josh last year. The start was fast and had us spectators wondering whether the field was going to try to run 8 minutes. Like all the races that took place earlier, the field stretched out into the back straight with the wind blowing behind and came back together on the home straight in the head wind. David and Josh did everything right and covered all the breaks. Soon after 4 laps, the field began to split into packs. Josh looked the strongest and began to move through the field which had us all on our feet. Josh eventually came in eighth in a time of 9.02.10, a massive personal best and the fastest time by a Strider on the night. Not far behind, David came in 15th with a time of 9.14.81.

Soon after the start. David Gardiner is ahead of Josh Phillips

 

 


David Gardiner moving through the field

 

David Gardiner now ahead of Nick Bromley

Josh Phillips pulls away from Joe Burgess to finish in 9:02:10

Buffalo Sports NSW All Schools 10/10/2013 - 13/10/2013

A lot of our juniors competed at NSW ALL Schools. See full results at www.nswathletics.info/liveresults/2013/nsw_as/  or elsewhere on the ANSW website if looking at this post long after the event. Now, at these races athletes can choose to wear either their school singlet or their Striders top. It is those that chose to wear their green and white Striders tops with pride that we feature here. They did incredibly well, and I leave it for you to decide whether wearing the Striders top brings out the champion in our athletes :)

The finish of what was arguably the most exciting race of the whole 4 days, with Lachlan Cooper pulling through the field to win the 14 boys 1500m with a sprint finish.

Lachlan Cooper gets his gold medal for the 14 boys 1500m.

Daniel Francken wins the 16 boys 3K. He also won the 3K 2 years ago. He was 3rd in the 1500m.

Daniel Francken gets his gold medal for the 16 boys 3K.

Hannah Gibson came 2nd in the 17 girls 2K steeplechase. Although she is not in her Striders top, we can see Amelia Gorman in her Monty top just behind her.

I love this photo. Here we see Ben Jagger have a go at the 2K steeplechase for the first time.

Paul Loader in the 16 boys steeplechase. You can also see Adam Halmy in his school top (the one in the yellow shoes and red top).

Josh Phillips won the 2K steeplechase in 6:24. He also won the 14 boys 3K in 9:18.

Josh Phillips with Youssef Abdi.

On the Sunday, just before Josh Phillips's 3K race, a fire started in the nearby car park, with cars actually exploding. This delayed the race start. Daniel Francken posted this picture on facebook.

Sydney Striders Juniors Party Extravaganza! Sept 7th 2013

What a wonderful party! We always have good parties, but this one has to be up there with the best. We had a great venue (The Hogg's house), fantastic sunny weather, good food and lots of entertainment, competitions and, of course prizes!! 

Entertainment: Rachel Underwood came along to teach everyone exercises to prevent injuries using thera bands and foam rollers, there was an ongoing slide show with music, heated pool, table tennis, football game, gorgeous singing from Jemima Davies and Nicola Hogg, election special comedy from Gus Wong, Kyle Wong and mum (playing the old peasant woman), and a celebrity interview with Josh Phillips.

Competition: a keenly fought trivia competition won by our intellectual giants - the girls only team, which beat the boys and the parents. We also had a hula hooping contest won by Jemima Davies, with Emily Gocher second. The party finished with pinata bashing.

Prizes: Trophies for the teams which made the top 3 in the state in the ANSW winter season, Breakthrough trophies, club record certificates, choccy prizes for all activities, an hour's massage, an hour of bio-mechanical gait analysis and spot prizes GALORE.

Some of the trophies glistening in the sunlight

Tony Wong giving out the 

breakthrough awards and
club record certificates

Tessa Constantine receives her breakthrough award for the 400m hurdles

Samuel Greenland, Benji Wilson, Tom Stockeld and Lachlan Francis - the under 12 boys team, get trophies for coming 2nd in the winter premiership.

Ben Sinclair and Wally Phillips - top helpers, as identified by the juniors themselves.

The under 12 girls celebrating in the pool - Alexandra Sincliar, Emma Kirkland, Jemima Davies, Nicola Hogg, Emily Gocher and Ciara Sinclair.

Caroline Yarnell conducts the celebrity interview with Josh Phillips

Kyle Wong, Gus Wong and Caroline Yarnell in a Monty Python skit - the election day special. Kyle followed this with a solo performance from 'The dictater'.

Fraser McKinlay, Josh Phillips, Lachlan Cooper, Jack Mills and Dan Cooper drag themselves from the pool to watch the performances.

Kyle Wong - 'Where can a young couple go, hungry and in search of a frog and peach?'

Jemima Davies and Nicola Hogg singing Price Tag beautifully and word perfect

Some of the crowd watching the interview and performances

Tony Wong organises the hula hoop contest

Tom Davies hulas

Jemima Davies hulas

Pinata bashing.

A bit of bonding amongst the under 18s - Joe Burgess and Gus Wong versus Hannah Gibson and Bethany Halmy

Age groups mingle :) Daniel Francken and Paul Loader take on Tom Davies and Lachlan Francis

The 'Nationals 9' at the Australian Cross Country Championships - Sat. August 31st 2014

We had a record 9 Junior Striders at the National Cross Country championships this year, which were held in Tasmania. These were: Lachlan Francis, Sophie Gocher, Tom Davies, Josh Phillips, Adam Halmy, Daniel Francken, David Gardiner, Amelia Gorman and Bethany Halmy. Lachlan Francis did the best, coming 7th, however most of our juniors were in the top half of the (muddy) field.

 

Results can be found at:

 

 

http://www.nswathletics.info/liveresults/2013/aa_cc/

Here are comments and photos from some of our runners - we are very proud of them!! Thanks to Naomi Davies and Roslyn Halmy for all the photos :)

Thomas (Tom Davies, pictured below) - My first Nationals,  being the 1st 12year old in the race was a great achievment  for me.  I had a great time loved the muddy, wet  track and  it was amazing to run with the 13 year olds , they are huge. I enjoyed catching up with other striders when I was not running......

Looks like a bog - Tom Davies

The start line

Tom Davies

Josh (Josh Phillips) - Nationals cross country was an amazing experience this year. Being the younger one out of the two age groups made it very difficult but I am very pleased on finishing 31^st overall. The mud was very challenging but on the other hand very fun.

 

A great picture of Josh Phillips showing the depth of the field

Josh Phillips digging in.



Josh fixing his hair after a hard race

An illustration of how muddy the course was! Josh Phillips from the rear.

 

Bethany (Bethany Halmy) - I had an awesome experience staying with the NSW Schools team! I am very happy with my run coming 21st overall in the U20's, 6th in the schools competition and came home with two silver medals from the cross country and relay schools team events!!! Definitely made up for missing two days of school when I am in year 12.

Bethany Halmy

Bethany Halmy - top right

Adam (Adam Halmy) - This is my first national cross country since 2007 and with the experienced gained from running against bigger boys I hope to next year do even better.

Adam Halmy on the muddy course

Adam Halmy giving his all

Below are pictures of Lachlan Francis, who came 7th, and Sophie Gocher who came 18th.

Lachlan Francis, no. 65

Sophie Gocher