MOST kids refuse point-blank to get out of bed before 11am on a Sunday. Other kids may be coaxed out with the promise of cartoons and Coco Pops. Then there are the few who spring out of bed at 7am, pull on their tracksuits, and bound out the door for a morning of sprinting, tagging and relaying.
The South Melbourne District Little Athletics club is blessed with a host of such eager kids. The club has only existed for five seasons and has already taken out a state championship with its under-10 mixed 4 x 100 metre relay team.
Team members Blake Hudson, Roman Anastasios, Alexandra Taylor Boxall and Gigi Maccagnini spent months training and perfecting their baton changes for the competition held at the end of January.
“It can be quite daunting for them and they practise for weeks and weeks beforehand to get it right. They were practising right up to 10 minutes before the final,” co-president Tim Allen says.
“We knew they were about two seconds slower than the fastest team and it was down to their baton changes. Then in their grand final it all clicked and they did great baton changes. It was seamless and it was great to watch.”
These young people are hardly training on the grass fields of their parents’ youth. After continued negotiations, the club now has access to one of Melbourne’s premier sporting venues – the Albert Park Lakeside Stadium.
“It’s the first time we’ve ever had a proper track to train on; we had to lobby very hard to get access,” Allen says. “That’s made the difference – kids can see what proper athletics tracks are all about.”
Not only are these kids working with the best facilities, they’re also being treated to coaching sessions from some of the best in the business – including hurdler Jana Pittman, who has a son in the club.
However, Allen says Little Athletics isn’t just about winning championships. “We don’t expect that from all our kids; the main thing is the kids are enjoying themselves and it’s all about promoting healthy lifestyles and family fitness, and fun at the same time,” he says.
“I think the great thing is actually watching kids come through that just love running. We’ve had kids that are so keen on running that they’ve still tried to run even with broken arms in casts.”
Drawing children aged seven to 13 from a range of schools including Albert Park, St Kilda Park, St Kilda, Elwood and Port Melbourne primary schools, the club creates a united spirit, says Allen.
“Having them compete under the one banner is really creating a strong sense of community,” he says. “Kids don’t usually love to get up on a Sunday morning, but they love getting up and putting on their team colours and running about and having fun.”
Email a friend