It has been around two decades since the North-West Coast hosted a state level Little Athletics meet.But around 400 junior athletes will converge on the region this weekend as the Coast welcomes back the top level of competition.
The Tasmanian State Relay Championships will be held at the Dial Regional Sports Complex in Penguin this Saturday.
In a boost for the region and athletes from the area, Tasmanian Little Athletics president Rhonda O’Sign said it would be a welcome return.
“It would be around 20 years ago that we were down on the North-West Coast for a state competition,” O’Sign said.
“We have had some smaller events held there in Penguin which have attracted some large numbers so it’s certainly progressing.
“We have had a number of events at a regional level held there and we have figured out that yes, people will travel out of their local areas to attend.”
With state level events generally held in Hobart and Launceston, O’Sign said the facilities in Penguin were more than capable of being brought back into the rotation.
“It gives us the option of taking the state events out of just the northern and southern regions.
“As we do have three centres on the Coast with Circular Head, Burnie and Devonport clubs.
“The track at Penguin has undertaken a great upgrade and we are seeing some of the benefits of that now.
“We will soon have three great venues and infrastructure to compete at in Hobart, Penguin and Launceston as well.”
There will be three different relay events running this Saturday catering for under-6 athletes through to under-15s.
All ages will compete in the 4x100m events while athletes from under-9 to under-15 will compete in the 4x 200m.
A Swedish relay event has also been introduced over the years which has been known as a standout event.
A Swedish consists of the first runner starting at the 200m line and running 100m, the second runner will run 300m, the third will run 200m and the last runner will run 400m to the finish line.
Long Jump will also be offered to the under-6 through to under-8s as well.
Of the three Coastal centres, Burnie Little Athletics have submitted 23 teams to compete in these relays.
The decision to return was made half way through 2016 following a proposal from North-West clubs and O’Sign said the return to the Coast had added excitement to this weekend’s competition.
“A very good proposal was made in early July last year and it was clear the clubs were very keen.
“The whole Little Athletics board agreed on competing at the venue and it’s going to be great for the region.
“It’s just really nice for our members so we can say to them that we are not forgetting about them because it’s such a great facility.
“It has certainly added some extra excitement ahead of this weekend and gives our athletes a chance to compete up there.”
The 2017 Tasmanian Little Athletics Relay Championships will run at the Dial Regional Athletics Complex in Penguin this Saturday.
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