UNDER 19 TALENT SQUAD

Athletics Australia’s Under 19 Talent Squad have rocketed out of the blocks in 2017, coming together for a training camp in Melbourne (Vic) last week.

Providing exposure to world leading sports science and medicine, the program also included competition opportunities in collaboration with Athletics Victoria and presentations by a plethora of guest speakers including Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallist Lauren Burns, Athletics Australia Head Coach Craig Hilliard and Rio 2016 debutants Peter Bol, Anneliese Rubie and Linden Hall.

“Our Under 19 Talent Squad has been a fixture of the junior high performance pathway for more than a decade and it continues to provide a crucial development opportunity for some of our best up and coming athletes,” Sara Mulkearns, Athletics Australia Junior High Performance Manager, said.

“The program is designed in partnership with our National Junior Coaches and sports science and medicine professionals from the state institutes and sports academies. This ensures that the athletes are exposed to activities that directly impact their ability to close the gap to a podium finish.”

The five-day camp, which was held at St Mary’s College at the University of Melbourne, also includes a parallel personal coach program that encourages a collegial approach to development between the National Junior Coach and coaches of their discipline.

“Australian athletes are fortunate enough to be coached by a very talented group of individuals and their efforts to engage with the National Junior Coaches and their peers at the camp was fantastic,” Mulkearns added.

“By working together, everyone continue to improve and this has significant benefits for the athletes when they return to their home base ahead of the summer of athletics and the Australian Athletics Championships at the end of the season.”

The Athletics Australia Under 19 Talent Squad was introduced in 2007, with selected athletes recognised as having the potential to become senior international athletes. It aims to:

-          To set up a network of support around talented athletes to assist the transitional period from junior to senior athletics
-          To further educate, inspire and develop athletes with a view to senior international representation
-          To build athletes understanding of the behaviours and commitment required to be an elite athlete

For their efforts in delivering the week-long camp, Athletics Australia would like to thank the sports science and medicine team of Chris Fonda (AIS), Christine May (AIS), Kylie Holt (AIS), Emma Millett (NSWIS), Georgia Giblin (QAS), Cory Innes (VIS), Kevin Craigie, Emily McLean and Amelia Carr, as well as the personal coaches who made the effort to attend the ‘Gaps to Podium’ program.

To find out more about the Athletics Australia Under 19 Talent Squad, please click here.