NSW Masters Championships: Journeys and insights

23 February 2026

NSW Masters Championships: Journeys and insights

In sport, athlete journeys vary enormously and it is no different in Masters athletics. 
During the weekend at the NSW Masters State Championships, we discovered some interesting pathways, but importantly also learned about the beautiful and positive impact athletics is having on their lives.

The track is Stephen’s happy place
Returning to athletics after two decades away, sprinter Stephen Hindmarsh, describes the track as his ‘peaceful place’.

Attending East Hills Boys High school, Hindmarsh joined local coach Kris Neofytou’s squad and trained with Neofytou’s son, a handy 20.60 200m athlete. Hindmarsh himself made the NSW team for the Pacific School Games in 2000.

Hindmarsh trained for a year after school, but he was involved in a conservative Christian group and “It (athletics) just wasn't a focus,” recalled Hindmarsh. “I started working and then I sort of just never got back to it.”

Hindmarsh tried for a comeback aged 33, but it only lasted six months. 

Now living in Newcastle, and working as a teacher, about five years ago he made a return to athletics. 
“It was actually during COVID that I got me back into it. I had been playing a bit of soccer and Oz tag.”

Aged 38 he started competed in athletics again.
“I was pretty disappointed with my first few runs because you know you think you've still got it but it's all laid bare on the track when you see your times. But that sort of gave me the drive to get better and start training.
“Initially I was just training myself, just looking up online, to see what training programs are around. I'd say probably the first three years, I was just training by myself.”

Then he joined a leading Newcastle squad, under coach Vanessa Price.
“As a schoolteacher and a parent, I just sort of have to get down there (to training) when I can.
“Whenever I go down to a track now, it just makes me happy, because, you know, when I was younger, that's all I wanted to do.”

On the weekend at the NSW Masters Championships Hindmarsh won a close 40-44 years 100m in 11.50 seconds, and was second in the 60m, long jump (5.69m) and javelin throw.

Nicki Drinkwater: From one sport to another, still setting records
From success on one sporting field to another, Nicki Drinkwater is a very talented sportsperson. A 4,500-point heptathlete in her late teens, Drinkwater represented Wales in athletics. While at University in Birmingham, she was encouraged to play rugby union, going on earn her first English cap in 2000, play in the 2002 Rugby World Cup and tally up 27 rugby tests for England. 

Now living in Australia, about four-year ago she joined the Ron Bendall squad at Rotary Field in Sydney and continues to shine in another sport, track and field. At the NSW Masters Championships on the weekend, she went undefeated in her six events, but it is the hurdles she is really reaching the heights. On Saturday she ran 13.15 seconds running into a strong headwind in the 80m hurdles and last month she clocked 12.82 at an Illawong meet, dipping under the Australian record of 12.86. At the 2024 World Masters Athletics Championships, she won silver in the heptathlon and bronze in the 80m hurdles. That was in the 45-49 years age division, but now she has graduated to the 50+ age division.

Drinkwater’s career away from the field of play has included working in sports administration. It started with a decade for the English Rugby Football Union and while in Australia with the NSW Waratahs. Currently she is deputy chair of NSW Little Athletics.

Accidental athlete Lisa Quinn
Illawarra Blue Stars athlete Lisa Quinn started athletics during COVID.
“When COVID was about, we weren't allowed to play hockey,” she recalled.
“I wanted to keep exercising. I ran into some people down at the oval who said, ‘Oh, you're a little bit quick. You should try athletics for Masters.’ And I started training then.”

Now in her third season of athletics, and under the coaching of IBS legend Valmai Loomes, over the weekend at the NSW Masters State Championships Quinn claimed three silver medals in the 45+ 60m, 100m and 200m. Aiming for a time of low 8 seconds in the 60m, she clocked 8.00 and also ran a very impressive 100m time of 12.78.

Quinn was also celebrating some special news over the weekend, that she had been named captain of the Australia Masters hockey team for the World Cup. Since her teenage years she has been a regular in State hockey teams played throughout her life.

Has her athletics training had an impact on her hockey?
“People who haven't seen me play for a while, say oh, you look really smooth when you're running with the ball. I feel a lot faster when I've got the ball on my stick. I'm also a lot more upright and balanced when I'm running with the ball. 

Morison makes a return to her teenage athletics career
Despite being a talented hurdler in her teens while at Pymble Ladies College, it would be football (soccer) that would be the sport of choice for Elizabeth Morison. But the star striker’s journey in football has not been ideal.  
“After three knee surgeries I decided it was time to call it. And athletics was perfect because it's in a straight line,” Morison recalled.
“I did my first ACL aged 29. Came back and played at like 33 and then tore the knee the other way around. Then came back and tore it again. So that was in my mid-30s. Then I stopped after that.”

Ash McMahon who was coaching her at the time put his foot down.
“After the knee, he said, ‘That's it, no more football, you need to stop now.”
Was she okay about that? 
“No, I was devastated.
“I'd been playing since I was seven, and my whole goal was to be a footballer. I still miss it. I kicked a ball with my kids the other day and my knee felt like melted cheese, so I know I can't come back. I can't do it again.”

Almost immediately Morison returning to athletics, and over the last five years she has been sprinting and jumping. “I medalled at nationals last year in long jump and high jump and made finals in the sprints.” 

Then only two months ago Morison returned to the hurdles. She explained the journey:
“It was sort of a last-minute decision. I sort of fell into it because we needed someone (to hurdle) for the club at the Treloar Shield. I put my hand up because I thought, I've done it before. So, we'd only been training for the hurdles for a couple of weeks.“

On Saturday at the NSW Championships, Morison clocked a slightly wind assisted time of 13.35 seconds in the 80m hurdles, winning convincingly.  

Sad to have given up football, hopes are high athletics, and now specifically hurdles, will provide that performance overcome for Morison.
“I think I just wanted to find an event that I could actually really excel in. I’m okay at the other events like a medal sometimes here and there. I know I can improve as it's only my second hurdles race. I’m keen to be a champion at something.”

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Nicki Drinkwater in the hurdles (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)