Young Guns Headline ACT Festival of Athletics

The festive season may be over but the festivities are just getting started in the ACT, with the Stromlo 5k and Bill Jacob Shield set to bring together the athletics community for the ACT Festival of Athletics. 

Several of Australia’s high performance athletes will be on display on the track for Sunday’s Bill Jacob Shield, with Cameron McEntyre (Angus McEntyre) and Cam Crombie (Hamish MacDonald) headlining the action in the javelin, whilst Paralympic long jumper Sarah Walsh (Matt Beckenham) will also take to the runway. 

The class in the field will be matched on the track in the form of rising New South Wales junior Jasmin Guthrie (Angus McEntyre) and 16-year-old Canberra sprinter Max Berry (Faye Todd), with Guthrie looking to cement her status as the nation’s premier junior 400m runner ahead of 2022’s World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Columbia. 

The 18-year-old registered a blistering 54.21 to clinch the U20 national title in a world junior qualifying time in 2021, securing her maiden Australian tracksuit on the Gold Coast after Australia’s withdrawal from the World Athletics U20 Championships in Kenya. 

“Going to the Gold Coast last year was a great experience and my training over the off season has been geared towards achieving the world junior standard again, and gaining my first international experience ," she said. 

“My coach has designed my training programs to focus on my stride power and speed endurance. We have a strong focus on translating training intensity into competition performance."

Guthrie's work over the off season has been geared towards to donning the green and gold in Columbia and gaining invaluable experience on the international circuit as she eyes a successful transition to the senior ranks. 

Another promising young talent who will be on display is Kiarna Wooley-Blain (Angus McEntyre), who launched the javelin 52.96m to secure a world junior qualifier in 2021 - with her fourth place finish at the Australian Track and Field Championships a credit to Australia’s young javelin stocks. 

Athletics ACT’s Executive Office, Edward Wilson, says the event will be a welcomed return for the sport in the new year – with an emphasis on combining the sport at all levels throughout the weekend as highlighted by the Stromlo 5k races from Community and Elite through to the Junior race as part of the state's aligned model. 

“The 2022 Festival of Athletics builds on the concept’s success in previous years, delivering a competitive yet inclusive weekend of events, celebrating the best our sport has to offer,” he said. 

“With both community and elite races, the Stromlo 5k provides the Canberra community the opportunity to come together as one, during a time that has kept so many a part. As an event driven to provide an inclusive atmosphere, regardless of your running or fitness levels, we foresee the Stromlo 5k once again being the highlight of the Summer for many!”

With the Festival of Athletics being one of the first events of 2022, Wilson is looking forward to the return of both local and interstate rivalries – which he credits as one of the great assets in the sport for both athletes and spectators. 

“Rivalry is the key stone to any memorable sporting event and the Bill Jacob Shield achieves this every year. Little Athletics ACT & Athletics ACT are proud to invite all members of our communities together as one to compete and most of all, love the sport we all share immense passion for!” he said. 

The Stromlo 5k will be livestreamed, with details and programs to be found through Athletics ACT’s social media channels. 

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 8/01/2022