practising her shot put with Age Manager Terry Tilyar
Little Athletics is growing more and more successful as its second athletics season draws to a close.
Murrumbateman Little Athletics Club President Kristin Butler was full of pride when reflecting on the club’s grand beginnings.
“I contacted Little Athletics ACT, and I said that we’d probably have 30 or 40 kids that would like to start a Little Athletics club.”
“We started our first season with about 130 kids registered,” she said.
This season there are 125 children registered, and they average an attendance of approximately 70 kids each Wednesday night.
“We’re the only club in Little Athletics ACT that runs it on a weekday; they all run it on Saturday mornings.”
“To have that turnout on a Wednesday night when most people work in Canberra and are coming back here for 6:00, it’s incredible,” she said.
Kristin puts the Little Athletics program’s success in Murrumbateman down to the absence of activities for children in the area.
“It just speaks to the incredible need within this community for anything for the kids to do,” she said.
Coach of the Murrumbateman Little Athletics, Kane Fillingham, thinks suitability to all children is the reason Little Athletics is so popular.
“It’s one of the few activities that families can bring all their kids to at the same time.”
“Boys and girls, different ages, and we try and keep it fun,” he said.
Kane says athletics invites people of diverse abilities and skillsets.
“Athletics is one of those things where you don’t necessarily need to be the fastest runner; you might be good at shot-put or discus or long-jump.”
“We’ve also got kids who socially might not work as great in team sports, but in athletics, they still have some social aspects, but they don’t have to feel like they’re letting the team down,” he said.
Kane, who has two young kids in the Little Athletics program and considers himself a “hack runner”, thinks it’s important to get kids a fitness base whilst they are young.
“It appeals to a lot of people.”
“I believe in athletics; I think it’s a great base sport to get kids fit and running around.”
“Here in Murrumbateman, with the facilities that we do have and we can best utilise, it works well,” he said.
The new club has experienced success already, with athletes set for nationals in the coming months.
“We’ve had success at a state level in the ACT and the South Coast.”
“On the weekend, we had a gold medal and two bronzes at that state level.”
“We’re putting Murrumbateman and Yass Valley on the map,” he said.
Max O’Driscoll
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