The Northern Inland Academy of Sport’s inaugural athletics program is set to get underway when the squad makes their way to one of the biggest events on NSW Athletics’ calendar this weekend.
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The 17-strong group will head to the Hunter Track Classic in Newcastle and spend time training with the Hunter Sports Academy.
After initially planning to attend and watch some of Australia’s best athletes in action, a handful of the Academy’s members will get the chance to line up on the track.
“Because we were already going down to watch the Hunter Track Classic I suggested to several of the athletes that they chuck an entry in and they might get a run,” coach Jay Stone said.
“It turned out that Canberra put on a meet the same night and given that Canberra usually has much better conditions, a lot of the prospective Olympians and what not are heading to Canberra which left the fields in Newcastle a little bit open.
“It turns out we have a few of those NIAS athletes have earned a spot in the fields now along with Stuart Geddes who is not part of NIAS, he has a spot in the three kilometre steeplechase.
“They were just going to be watching from the grandstands and volunteering but it looks like we have a few of those NIAS athletes who will be stepping out on to the track now so it is pretty exciting for them I am sure.”
For some of the athletes, it will be the toughest race they’ve ever run.
“It should be a great experience for them. They are stepping out in a very, very high level, competitive environment,” Stone said.