TOMAREE High School has unearthed an elite batch of flying 14-year-olds who have taken the regional athletics scene by storm.
Sprint sensations Mia McDonald, Maebel Colley, Pipi Cullimore and Anna Taylor-Anderson have captured the imagination of local sporting pundits with their blistering performances on the track.
The outstanding quartet demonstrated their raw speed and athletic prowess with a swag of medals at the recent Combined High Schools Regional Athletics Championships at the Hunter Sports Centre at Glendale.
A highlight was their triumph in the 14yrs Girls 4 x 100m Relay final where they clocked a winning time of 55.64 seconds – a meritorious achievement under the coaching of respected Port Stephens athletics stalwart Bob Walkley.
Mia, Maebel, Pipi and Anna will now chase an elusive gold medal at this year’s NSW All Schools Track and Field Championships from 27-30 September at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre.
A delighted Walkley praised the girls’ efforts, especially the versatile Maebel who showed courage and heart while running the second leg after injuring her hip flexor.
“Maebel typified the spirit and belief between all four girls when she battled through injury and kept running to make a crucial baton change with Pipi,” Bob told News Of The Area.
“They are a delight to coach and have the natural talent and desire to claim a State Relay title.”
Pipi and twin sister Fern are still only 13 and have already tasted State Relay championship success.
Both were key members of the triumphant Bobs Farm Public School 4 x 100m 12yrs Girls Relay team that clinched gold at last year’s NSW Primary Schools Athletics Championships in Sydney.
Fern also shone at the CHS Regional titles – clocking a personal best time of 68.30 sec to collect bronze in the 13yrs Girls 400m sprint.
The gifted Pipi also registered a personal best time of 14.14 sec in the 13yrs Girls 100m final to finish fifth and posted a time of 28.67 sec to grab sixth place in the 200m decider.
Maebel had earlier finished eighth in the 14yrs Girls 200m final with a time of 29.67 sec.
In the same race, a determined Mia produced one of her fastest times (27.82 sec) to snare the silver medal and backed it up with a strong sprint in the 100m final to place fourth (13.73 sec).
The emerging Taylor-Anderson sisters Anna and Jaimie picked up a bagful of medals in both track and field events.
Champion hurdler Anna showed her versatility by also claiming gold in the Girls 14yrs high jump (1.40m); silver in the triple jump (10.11 metres) and long jump (4.44m); bronze in the 100m sprint (13.60 sec) and sixth in the javelin (16.43m) to cap a memorable meet.
Kid sister Jaimie was just as impressive – winning gold in the 13yrs Girls discus (16.33m) and bronze medals in the javelin (18.56m) and long jump (3.81m) finals.
By Chris KARAS
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