Nowra athletes contested 800m events across 17 races at the recent NSW Country Championships in Dubbo. The 28 athletes won 18 medals between them.
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In the Under 9 race Liam O'Leary finished 3rd for bronze followed by Tom Smart in 4th. In the Under 10 event Taj Goddard took gold with Noah Dyball scoring the bronze, whilst in the girls' race Rose Atkins won silver in the closing metres of the race. Elsie Proctor claimed bronze and Evie Smart was 5th.
Representing Nowra in the Under 11 event was Flynn O'Leary who finished 6th. In the Under 13's Kalani Hay took home silver in her first ever Country Championships and in the boys race Charlie Fay won bronze with Jett Goddard 4th and Patrick O'Leary 7th. Toby Dyball was 4th in the Under 14 race and Cooper Barrett attained a bronze medal in the Under 15 event. Will Dyball added another gold medal to his collection in the Under 16 event, and sister Ella Dyball added a silver to her tally in the Under 17 race.
Nash Hay, another Country Championships debutante took gold in the Under 17 boys' event whilst training partner Jacob Pepper, also a Country first-timer, won silver. In the Open race Erin Smart gave 22-year-old Rosie Davidson from Illawarra Blue Stars a run for her money, clocking 2.25.89 for silver just behind Rosie who snared the gold in 2.25.02. Cam Musgrove also claimed a silver medal for his run of 1.57.7 in the Open male race behind gun runner Lawson Fittler from Armidale who crossed in 1:56.03.
Karly Goddard set a blistering pace in the 30-39-year-old race and eventually finished with a silver after Nicole Williamson from Orange ran her down. In the 40-49-year event Tiffany Atkins ran a strong race to take bronze whilst Tracey Barrett and Darlene Musgrove were 4th and 5th respectively. In the men's race Gavin Dyball was on fire and led the field for the entirety of the race. Gavin smashed his previous PB of 2.43.72 clocking 2.29.90 for gold. Glen Mustapic and Paul Musgrove competed from a joint 'dare' and finished 4th and 5th in almost identical times.
Finally, Nowra's 800m masters champion Peter Dooley added yet another gold to his large collection with a win in the 60-69 years race.
Four Nowra athletes travelled to Canberra to compete in the AACT Championships on Friday, January 24, to contest their respective 800m events. Cam Musgrove was 3rd in his seeded heat, clocking a new PB of 1.56.00. Will and Toby Dyball both took home a bronze medal with Will finishing 3rd in the Under 16 race with a PB of 2.06.77 and Toby equalling his PB of 2.32.91 for 3rd in the U14's. Ella Dyball also ran a PB in her 800m clocking 2.34.04 for 8th place.
The 800m event of course combines aerobic endurance with anaerobic conditioning and sprint speed so our athletes are certainly in good shape at the moment. The 800m is also well known for its tactical racing which has undoubtedly led to some exciting finishes for our athletes and left our cheer squads on the edge of their seats throughout these recent competitions. Well done to everyone competing.