Heiner A Top Hope In Nationals
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday March 2, 2005
MANGERTON runner Madeline Heiner will be one of the South Coast's main medal hopes at this week's National Athletics Championships at Homebush.
The three-day meet gets under way on Friday and Heiner is part of a strong contingent from the South Coast and Southern Highlands.After placing fifth in the women's 1500m at the recent Telstra A-Series round at Adelaide, Heiner will line up in the same event at the nationals along with Helensburgh teenager Lexy Gilmour.Heiner, who was last week named the Illawarra Academy of Sport's top performer in the individual athlete program, will travel to the French city of St Galmier after the meet to compete in the under 20 division of the 33rd World Cross Country Championships on March 19.The other members of the Australian women's squad are Benita Johnson, Tiffany Levette, Haley MacGregor, Anna Thompson, Eloise Wellings, Georgie Clarke, Sarah Jamieson, Emma Rilen and Suzy Walsham.Australia's men's squad is Mark Fountain, Richard Jeremiah, Simon Field, Craig Mottram, Peter Nowill, Mark Tucker and David Ruschena.Heiner is the only Australian competing in the under 20 category.The national titles will also be a chance for high jumpers Sophia Begg, from Hill Top, and Bulli's Petrina Price to stake their claims - their event is the first cab off the rank at the meet.Highly rated sprinter Nicole Apps, who joined the Illawarra Blue Stars athletics club last year, will run in the women's 100m and 200m events.The South Coast will also be represented by James Russell in the under 23 section of the decathlon and Shellharbour's Lachlan Chisholm in the men's 1500m.
© 2005 Illawarra Mercury