Aiming for Olympic gold

l ATHLETICS

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

IT’S ready, set and go for the Coral Coast Athletics Carnival at Barlow Park this weekend, where hundreds of club athletes, professional athletes and Olympians from across Australia are set to compete in one of the Far North’s biggest athletics carnivals.

One of the most important events in the Cairns Athletics calendar, over 300 athletes will be competing in the event on July 29 and 30 with up-and-coming local athletes like discus thrower Hannah Edwards, runner Kaiyan Blue and Olympian Ash Moloney will fill the track and field with their talent.

The event organised by Cairns Athletics and Athletics North Queensland holds a World Athletics and Australia Athletics permit, so athletes will not only be competing to represent their region, but to qualify for national and inter- national competitions, accumulate ranking points, break national and world records, and have their performances added to world top lists.

Athletics North Queensland general manager Dayne O’Hara said the carnival was the pride of Cairns athletes.

“This year we have over 300 athletes and they’re coming from as far away as New Zealand to participate,” he said.

“The competition is for athletes four-years-old to masters or competing alongside them, and we have athletes from clubs, social and non-members but we also have Olympians competing before they head off to the World Championships in August.

“Cairns and the FNQ regions have always had a strong pride in the Coral Coast Carnival, and you have over 18 clubs participating to take ownership of this world recognised competition.

“World Athletics has adopted the event so international athletes can actually get ranked and get qualifications, not only for the World Championship but for the 2024 Olympics.”

This year, Olympian Ash Moloney who won bronze in decathlon at the Tokyo Olympics, and New Zealander and heptathlon athlete Portia Bing will be the highlights of the event next to local up-and coming-athletes like throwing star Hannah Edwards, 17, and teams like Pace Project led by Olympian Jill Boltz.

“Having competitions in Cairns is extremely important,” Mr O’Hara said.

“The Cairns region is known for having some great coaches and supporting our athletes to go into pathways, what Coral Coast provides is that next level of competition and opportunities for athletes to test their skills to further their athletic career.

Nominations for athletes are now closed but community members are encouraged to join and support the local heroes from the stands at Barlow Park this weekend.