WHEN he isn’t busy training his young stars of the track, Armidale Athletics club president Jay Stone is hitting the track and achieving goals of his own.
The 400 metre runner recently competed at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Perth and finished with a bronze medal in the 35-39 years final.
After overcoming an injury-riddled few years, Stone set his standards high heading into the meet and said while he was thrilled he experienced a podium finish, he has hit sights set on the gold medal position.
"I had set my goal on winning a world title, it was fantastic to get a bronze medal and I am over the moon with that but there is more work to be done to get up to the silver or gold medal spot,” he said.
"The job is not done quite yet.
"The amount of injuries I have had in the last few years and just being able to train and be healthy has helped a lot so I am excited to build on that now that I am healthy.
"I am hoping now to knuckle down into some hard training and I am excited to see what time I am able to run with a bit more training.”
The next World Masters isn’t until 2018 but Stone aims to continue training to ready himself for the title tilt.
Of his experience in Perth, Stone said it was quite an exciting experience and he had to shake off the nerves to finish in bronze medal position.
“I have been in a lot of big races and a lot of big competitions but it was something new to be racing people who have come halfway across the world for this,” he said.
"If you are racing somebody from Great Britain or Spain, you are going to think 'these guys must be pretty damn good if they have come all this way'.
"It was just pretty nerve-wracking to compete against everybody from around the world but a great experience.”
Stone was joined at the championships by fellow club member and Glen Innes local Neville McIntyre.
McIntyre competed in the 70-74 age category in the 200 and 400 individual races as well as the 4x100 metre and 4x400 metre team relay events.
McIntyre qualified for the finals in both his individual events but fell just short of a podium finish.
It was his relay events where McIntyre experienced the most success with both teams claiming the gold medal.
Stone said McIntyre intends to be at the next World Masters in 2018.
"He is one of the oldest in his age group, he is turning 75 next year so he will be the young whippersnapper in that age group,” he said.
"He did well to be one of the oldest and he was still making finals and running pretty well.”
Ellen Dunger
Originally from the Blue Mountains, I spent my teenage years in the Riverina at boarding school before moving to Bathurst in 2012 to complete Bachelor of Sport Studies/ Bachelor of Communications (journalism) at Charles Sturt University. I started my career at The Blayney Chronicle in May 2015 and worked casually, one day a week at the Central Western Daily later on that year. I moved to Armidale in March 2016 to take on the role as the Northern Tablelands' sports journalist. Played a variety of sports in my lifetime including touch football, league tag, gymnastics, dance, cross country running and equestrian. Always happy to hear news and tips. www.facebook.com/ellendungerjournalist/
Originally from the Blue Mountains, I spent my teenage years in the Riverina at boarding school before moving to Bathurst in 2012 to complete Bachelor of Sport Studies/ Bachelor of Communications (journalism) at Charles Sturt University. I started my career at The Blayney Chronicle in May 2015 and worked casually, one day a week at the Central Western Daily later on that year. I moved to Armidale in March 2016 to take on the role as the Northern Tablelands' sports journalist. Played a variety of sports in my lifetime including touch football, league tag, gymnastics, dance, cross country running and equestrian. Always happy to hear news and tips. www.facebook.com/ellendungerjournalist/
