Journeys of our Masters Athletes

Published Mon 14 Mar 2022

14 March 2022

Journey of our Masters Athletes

Our Masters athletes are a rich source of interesting backgrounds and journeys in athletics. Here are some I discovered at the 2022 NSW Masters Athletics Championships held at Homebush last weekend.

 

Brett Halls: Chasing more of Albie Thomas’ records

NSW 35+ years record holder Brett Halls is back competing after a few years off the track.

“I’ve been injured for the last five years,” Brett said. “This is my first season without injury. I’ve been able to string a few training sessions and races together, so running the fastest I have since my 30s.”

He looked very strong winning the 40+ years 1500m in 4:06.62 and 800m in 2:00.19. In his ‘30s he broke the NSW 35 years record held by triple Olympian Albie Thomas, set way back in in 1974.

Now fit again, Brett is targeting one of Albie Thomas’ best records, his 40 years 1500m of 3:55.40 set 47 years ago. (& equalled by Glenn Ritchie)

Brett trains with Run Crew under coach Gary Howard.

“Gary is a great coach and was himself an 800m runner.”

Erin Smart: from the balcony to the track

One of the most exciting races of the weekend was the women’s 800m for ages 30 to 54. Despite the age ranges, it was a very close and high quality race amongst the seven competitors. They all finished within seven seconds in times from 2:28 to 2:35. The fastest was Nowra’s Erin Smart in the 35-39 age, clocking 2:28.73. The 50-54 years winner, Charlotte Middleton, was amazing running 2:29.64.

“That race nearly killed me, recalled Erin Smart. “The plan was to sit behind and save myself for the 200m later. But one of the girls went out pretty hard and I thought I don’t know her and what age division she is in. So that threw me a bit and I had to pick up the pace. Then I heard the pack getting closer. Lucky, I had a kick at the end to hold on for the win.”

Erin is primarily a sprinter and a few hours later was back on the track winning the 200m in a time of 26.57.

“I would have liked to sneak into the 25s, but considering the races I’ve done this weekend it was okay.”

Having never run in her school years, Erin was a later starter to athletics. After the birth of a son, Erin spent a lot of time at home.

“I remember being on the balcony and seeing some runners from the Nowra club run past. They looked like a motley crew and I thought maybe I can do that. Next week I went along, it was a 6km run and I was awful but it was fun to be out of the house and part of something. Then I started their track season. I was 35 and got a coach Mel Mustapic and my husband is a physio so he set my strength training.”

Now in her fifth year in athletics, Erin is a Speech Pathologists in Nowra.

Michel Hemmings Jones: former World Class discus thrower back in the circle

One of the best discus throwers in the World 20 years ago, Michel Hemmings Jones, has returned to the sport in his Masters years. Michel, now 46, a former Cuba who defected to Spain, won a gold medal in the discus at the Central American and Caribbean Championships in 2001. The year prior he had thrown a mighty distance of 64.44m in June, but would miss the Sydney Olympics due to injury. He moved to Australia in 2010 and is now a physical trainer at Macquarie University and the throws coach at the Balmain Athletics Club. Over the weekend Michel won the 45-49 age discus with his opening throw of 42.94m.

Stuart and Nicole Tait: Kids lead parents into athletics

Grafton Club athletes Stuart and Nicole Tait are new to Masters athletics, motivated to follow their children into the sport. Their 18-year-old daughter Hanna Tait, the fifth best heptathlete in Australian this year, started in Little Athletics with her brothers. A turning point was when Hanna performed well in a heptathlon in Brisbane.

“It really opened her eyes and she went into it (heptathlons),” said Stuart.

“Then we started to get involved in organising Little Athletics and we then decided we may as well not just watch. We started to join in the kids training and I got a few runs in.”

That was two years ago and they are now hooked.

“We love the community. Country Championships was sort of the first path into it and we loved the comradery.”

Stuart and Nicole had a busy competition program over the weekend. Nicole competing in eight events, winning a medal in every event, while Stuart competed in six events, winning bronze in the long jump and gold in the javelin.

Stuart, a Canadian, met Nicole working on a cattle station taking in backpackers. They travelled the World and then settled in Australia where Stuart is a geography teacher.

Jamie Terley: Reconnecting with primary school and Little Athletics friends

Just two years into his return to athletics, now is Masters, Jamie Terley is still finding his feet in the competitions, but enjoying the sport immensely.

“I did a lot of athletics in high school until year 12 and did quite well,” said Jamie Terley who won State medals in the 100m and long jump as a teenager.

“I left high school and did other things. Then last year the kids started Little Athletics and I thought to myself ‘if the kids can do it I might get back into it’. The first year was a bit tough, with injuries and the body readjusting to athletics again, then this summer season I did manage to get some more races in and some training.”

Competing is taking him back 20+ years.

“It brings back a lot of memories, the smell of the tartan track, the sand on your leg and you go home sweaty and eat a junk food meal on the way home.

“It is a great atmosphere as everyone is so friendly. It is competitive enough and welcoming as well. A good balance.”

But Jamie has been surprised to find some old friends in the sport.

“A discovered a couple of the boys I’ve known since primary school and one of the guys we used to do LAs together at Trumper Park and I only recently saw him again after 25 years - Steve Blacker, who won the 100m and long jump. He has not stopped and next year I’ll get him for sure. We have now reconnected and went for a game of golf together.”

Over the weekend Jamie won bronze medals in the 100m and long jump in the 40-44 age.

Stephen Liggins: Australian junior champion

In his teenage years Stephen Liggins was an Australian champion in athletics. He taught himself shot and discus from a book. He did shot in his back yard and also threw shot and discus from a basketball surface at a local school. But despite his success in athletics, cricket was his primary summer sport. He played first grade for Northern Districts and Gordon from 1983 until 1997 and fondly remembers the bookends of his cricket career. “My first ball in first grade was from Tony Greg which I pushed uppishly for two and in my last season I got Michael Slater out with a bouncer,” recalled the fast bowler who is now an Anglican Minister.

After 12 years away from sport, Stephen was inspired to return when Sydney hosted the World Masters Games in 2009 and has competed ever since. “I train a bit, it is a hobby and a lot of fun.”

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Images: all the athletes featured above (courtesy of Fred Etter and David Tarbotton)


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