February 1, 2023, marks the 37th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). We honor and celebrate the achievements day of all the girls and women in Little Athletics, who continue to Lead Her Forward, by inspiring girls and women to play, be active, to realize their full power and limitless potential.
Coles Little Athletics Australia applauds the vital role each Member Organisation and Centre play in providing girls and women their right to equal access and opportunity in Little Athletics. “The confidence, strength, and character gained through sports participation are the very tools girls and women need to become strong leaders in sport and life” Women’s Sports Foundation*.
Today Coles Little Athletics Australia highlights the contribution of some of the girls and women in Little Athletics who inspire greatness and #LeadHerForward:
Little Athletics Member – Billie Greatbanks
“My name is Billie, I am 7 years old and do Little Athletics at Ridgewood Little Athletics Centre in Western Australia. I joined athletics because I loved to watch my older brothers compete and couldn’t wait to do athletics. Once I was old enough I joined athletics and love the throws, running, and most of all the long jump. I love to compete and am very competitive but the thing I love most about little athletics is hanging out with the girls in my age group who have become my good friends over the last few years. I look up to all the older girls at Ridgewood Little Athletics Club and love to watch them sprint and do the high jump. I can't wait to try the high jump next season. My dream is to be at the Olympics when I’m older.”
Little Athletics Member – Rhema Adelaja
“My name is Rhema Adelaja, I’m 13 years old and from Port Hacking Little Athletics Centre. I joined little athletics because I wanted to participate in an active sport and in one that would also be fun to be involved in. Breaking the Australian Personal Best time for Hurdles at State was really a proud moment for me. It goes to show that hard work and consistency pay off. It also encourages me to keep working on achieving higher goals and to inspire others through my achievements. I like athletics because it allows me to participate in a sport that I really love and at the same time it encourages sportsmanship and I've made great friends through little athletics. A role model I look up to is American Track Olympian Allyson Felix, she is such a great inspiration to many athletes including myself. She has shown through her success as the most decorated female track and field athlete in Olympic history. That dedication and commitment are important characteristics in athletics”
Little Athletics Member – Brooke Hosgood
Brooke Hosgood is a 16 year old athlete from Taree Little Athletics Centre, who joined little athletes at the age of 8 after having great success in her school cross country and realizing athletics was the sport for her. Brooke has since broken the Australian Personal Best time in the 1500m event at the Little Athletics NSW State Championships and recently achieved her goal of competing at the Cross Country National Championships in South Australia in August last year. Brooke has said the whole experience from little athletics through to senior cross country is something she has loved and now can share her journey with others who are interested in running.
“I love the encouragement, inclusiveness, and participation that occurs amongst all the members and their families at Little Athletics. Little Athletics feels like a second family to me, without the Taree Little Athletics Club and the support from them, I would not have achieved the results I have to date” Brooke Hosgood.
Brooke really looks up to most of her competitive peers and strives to be worthy of them. She has also met a lot of motivational female athletes like sprint and agility coach Ranell Hobson. Brooke really likes the fact that Ranell continually renews her ideas, which is refreshing and keeps her interested in the sport. There are many other role models Brooke looks up to in athletics, though it has been Kathy Freeman whom Brooke has admired from earlier on in her athletics journey, she even now reads Kathy Freeman's biographies and likes to learn about Kathy’s life and wonderful career.
Little Athletics Australia Ambassador – Sophie White
“My name is Sophie White, I'm 21 years old and I'm a 100m hurdler. Little athletics is what sparked my love for the sport of athletics and helped shape me into the athlete I am today. It has taught me about resilience, friendship, determination, and giving everything a go! Over my time in sports, injuries have played a huge role in teaching me many lessons, particularly over the last few years, such as staying positive during the highs and lows that come with any sport, resilience, and the patience involved in understanding that we can't always be 100% and see improvement in every session. I've learned to celebrate the small wins, have a healthy balance of other things I enjoy, and surround myself with a support network of friends, family, and coaches who believe in me.”
Little Athletics Australia Ambassador – Emelia Surch
"My name is Emelia Surch and I competed for Australia last year at the World Under 20 Championships placing 4th in the world in Long Jump and breaking the Oceania Under 20 record for the Long jump and 100m Hurdles.
I started my athletic journey as a tiny 6 year old, at Ashmore Little Athletics on the Gold Coast, and went all the way through to Under 17’s. Little Athletics has inspired me from a very young age that sport is not all about winning, but enjoying yourself and what you do, ultimately allowing yourself to fall in love with the sport, without pressure. Little Athletics has given me the opportunity to be exposed to every event, hence now being a heptathlete, was extremely beneficial and worthwhile. Giving everything a go and never failing to not believe in myself was always apparent whilst participating in Little Athletics because I learned to love the sport and every event.
Athletics eventually became a part of my identity when I made the National Under 15 camp because it set the record straight. I gained so much knowledge from the camp, things about recovery and nutrition that I still used to this day. The camp taught me everything about what it takes to be an elite athlete, and that is exactly what I wanted to become.
The biggest challenge I've ever faced was at the beginning of 2022 (last year). I was battling two viruses during the qualification period for the World Under 20 Championships. Having to stay motivated at training and keep believing in myself when I was not able to perform as well as I knew I could, (and achieve qualifiers) definitely, took its toll on my mental mindset. Fortunately, I continued to be patient, persistent, and determined. I continued to work as hard as I could and went to nationals in March 2022 with no qualifiers next to my name, but came out with 2. If I had given up when times were tough during sickness at the beginning of the year, I wouldn't have proven to myself that I can make the Australian team, and I certainly would not be the 4th best Under 20 Long jumper in the world. Sport is tough, but you are tougher! Be patient, persistent, and determined."
Little Athletics Australia Ambassador – Taneille Crase
“I'm Taneille Crase, Commonwealth Games representative, 2 x Australian champion, and Little Athletics Australia Ambassador. Athletics has always been a huge part of my life and that started at Little Athletics in Under 8s. Little athletics showed me that I could enjoy sports, have fun and meet women my own age who became lifelong friends.
Athletics has provided me with a greater perspective on life and has truly shaped me into the person I am today. It has helped build my confidence to set goals and empowered me to push myself to achieve them. I have met many amazing sportswomen that have inspired me and made a huge impact on my life.
This sport has given me the inner grit and resilience to overcome any obstacles. I've been faced with many challenges, whether it's injuries, stressing about school and exams, or trying to balance work and training, it's important to experience the highs and lows to remind us why we are doing this sport because we love it.”
First Australian Heptathlon Olympic Champion – Glynis Nunn OAM
Glynis Nunn the first Australian to win the Heptathlon at an Olympic Games in 1984 in Los Angeles, started her athletic journey at age 9 and has since conquered all levels of the sport as an athlete and now is coaching the next generation of athletes, helping girls and women to achieve their fullest potential as an athlete. Glynis’ holistic approach to athletics and servant leadership has captivated the Little Athletics community, evident by the admiration she receives from little athletes at the Coles Little Athletics U15 National Camp. Where she coaches, educates, and leads this annual athletics program since its establishment in 2012.
“Athletics has been a huge part of my life from an early age. It has given me direction, and the ability to apply myself to achieve my goals and dreams and shown the world that smaller females can make it on the world stage. I was always one of the smallest in my competitions but this is not indicative of the strength and power of your heart and how much you want to perform well.
I have been coaching now for over 40 years. At present, my squad has a majority of females aged from 10 – 28 years old. I love the relationship that can develop between a coach and athlete and how this strength can influence their ability to apply themselves to tasks. Many females have an inner strength that they find when faced with a challenge.
Year 12 or turning 15/16 becomes a defining time for many girls as they have boyfriends who are demanding their time and also many girls are trying to decide on a career. It is then you need to be strong to know what you want to do and how you are going to achieve your goals – and be strong. Relationships will last if both people are on the same page and support each other even at this young age.”
Little Athletics Australia Hall of Fame Inductee – Heather Mitchell OAM
Heather Mitchell is a long-standing member of Port Hacking Little Athletics where she began her journey within Little Athletics when she attended her children’s first Centre opening day. Heather’s most significant contribution to the sport has been in racewalking most notably as a judge, officials’ educator, and in addition to being a competition organizer and administrator. Heather has held many roles at the club, zone, state, and national level, and wasn't long after being involved in Little Athletics she became a Port Hacking Centre delegate, zone delegate, and not long after that, elected to Centre officer for officials (2 years), then competition/championships officer and team manager (9 years), secretary (1 year), President (22 years) and championships officer until 2019. A Port Hacking Centre life member, Heather has been judging walk events at NSW and Australia racewalking events. Heather’s involvement at Little Athletics NSW also spans across years of work on the Trans-Tasman Committee joining in 1984, in addition to being a long-standing member of the LANSW Board of Management joining in 1990. Heather Mitchell was awarded a Little Athletics NSW Merit Award in 1993 and Life Membership in 1998 because of this enormous commitment and involvement in Little Athletics. Heather has since inspired generations of girls and women within the sport of Little Athletics and in 2021 was inducted into the Little Athletics Australia Hall of Fame Volunteer.
* Women In Sport - https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/get-involved/ngwsd/about-ngwsd/
By Stephanie Grujoski, Coles Little Athletics Australia
Posted: 1/2/2023
Coles Little Athletics Australia acknowledges and pays respect to all traditional custodians of the lands of which we work, run, jump and throw throughout Australia. We pay respect to elders both past, present and emerging.
We are committed to a positive future for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and to honor their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to this country and recognize the role and value of culture.