Stories from the NSW Country Championships

1 March 2021

Stories from the NSW Country Championships

Lani Withnall – back to country

COVID has impacted people in different ways. For Lani Withnall it brought a move ‘home’. Back to athletics and back to the country for Lani.

A talented junior jumper, Lani competed in Bobsleigh, played Rugby 7s for three years, even made an appearance in Ninja Warrior, before making a return to athletics 12 months ago and moving from Sydney to the Central Coast.

“I’m a country girl at heart, originally from ‘Old Bar’ (inland of Taree) so the Central Coast is like the mid-north coast, so it does feel a bit more like home than North Ryde,” said Lani.

“It has been great being a Coastie again and being part of a community club (Mingara). Back to the root of why I did athletics - just looking forward to going to training every day and really enjoying my sport again. I feel like I’m at Little As again. It is my 21 athletics season.”

Lani has linked up with local coaches sprints - Mick Zisti and jumps - Matt Horsnell.

“It has been amazing returning to the sport and having an inspiration person like Nicola (McDermott) in my squad – what a woman.”

It has taken Lani a while to readjust to athletics.

“It has been 12 months of training in athletics to correct my technique from running like a footy player.”

But she was rewarded with success at the NSW Country Championships. In addition to winning a silver in the relay, she won the triple jump with a national qualifying distance of 11.80m.

COVID has also altered her career pathway. A qualified sports journalist, who has worked for the SCG, netball and hockey, was stood down from her corporate job during COVID. But to maintain her journalism interest, she has started her own podcast called the ‘Athlete Insider’, where she interviews Australia and international athletes. “It keeps my journalism skills alive while working in childcare and also coaching,” said Lani.

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William Vince-Moin – athletics making a difference in his life

“The 400m stung so much. I just had to use every bit of power and strength that I could gather,” were the words of the winner of the men’s para 400m Will Vince-Moin. While still recovering from the race and waiting on his time to be announced he was hoping to break his PB of 62 seconds. “I think that was a PB and that is a double bonus.” Later he would heard the great news he clocked 61.42 seconds.

Will trains with the strong Armidale squad under coach Jay Stone.

“About five or six years ago, I got into athletics through watching athletics and wanting to run,” explained Will.

“I needed to make a different in my life as I was going nowhere. Athletics has helped me. I needed something that required grit, determination and purpose.

“I have to realise I don’t think the Paralympic Games 400m is on the cards, but at the moment I’m concentrating on one milestone at a time.”

Will is inspired by the words of a former American President Franklin Roosevelt.

“My motto is a quote that gets me thought – ‘A man is not a prisoner of war, he is a prisoner of his mind, and ill content if he does nothing with his life.”

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Ernie Leseberg – stepping up

Not content to race in his own age, for a challenge, Gosford sprinter Ernie Leseberg races the open men’s 100m at the Country Championships. Turning 50 this year, Ernie made the open 200m final, but back in his own age, 40-49 won the 100m and placed second in the 200m to Armidale gun Jay Stone.

Competing up in the open events is not new for Ernie.

“It is something I have been doing for a couple of years now,” he said. “In the last couple of years I’ve made the open 100m final. This year not quite as good, maybe I was trying too hard.”

Ernie is in his third stint in athletics after starting in the sport in the under-11s in Camden. His best open year was aged 37 when he clocked his PBs of 11.13 (100m), 22.29 (200m) and 51.02 (400m) under the coaching of Michael Dooley. At the 1997 NSW Country Championships he placed second in the open 100m.

But in recent years he has arguably been in his best form considering in age. At the 2018 World Masters Championships he made the 100m and 200m semi-finals.

“I was disappointed in that as I was hoping to make finals. That is what has spurred me on in recent years.”

But COVID has halted international masters competition, cancelling the 2020 World Masters set down for Toronto in Canada. There is no major in 2021, but he will be hoping competition resumes soon as he turns 50 this year and therefore is at the start of the age group – an obvious advantage.

COVID has also affected his work. Ernie runs a sports registration business for events.

“Last year February and March were my best ever months, but from April it didn’t exist. But it has not just been me that has been effected.”

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Tyler Gunn – home ground

Central Coast sprinter Tyler Gunn took full advantage of an opportunity to race on his home track to blast his way back into form over 400m. In a solo run, he clocked 46.41 – the second fastest of his career and best time for two years.

“I felt really strong and really happy with the run,” said Tyler. “I like running at this track as I believe it is a fast track. Conditions were good so we pushed it.”

After some injuries over the last few years he is taking it step at a time.

“I’m just taking each race as it comes and looking forward to the next race and hopefully getting better each time.”

This weekend’s NSW Open Championships provide another opportunity for him to continue to progress.

“It will be a good test to see how I back up in rounds.”

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Tyler Gunn winning the open 400m (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)