Eight athletes from the two Wagga little athletics clubs will be among those chasing a shot at state glory next month when the NSW championships for under nines to under 12s take place in Sydney.
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Olivia Bailey, Sam Bull, Ethan Hilton and Cooper Dabin from the Wagga club and Kooringal-Wagga's Teigan Dummer, Benjamin Field, Zoe Priest and Liam Robinson were all successful in qualifying last week in Wagga.
It was something of a return to normality for the sport after representative pathways ground to a halt almost a year ago.
There are some COVID-enforced changes. The 'Littles' qualifying meet was for the younger age groups, which will have their state champs on March 20-21.
The qualifying meet was effectively the old 'regional' carnival, taking in competitors from right across southern NSW and the south coast.
Dabin was one of the locals to shine, equalling the regional record in under 12s shot put with a throw of 12.17m.
Some 246 athletes took part in the Jubilee Park meet, having all met qualifying standards.
"It was fantastic and I think it was just what everyone was wanting and needing," Little Athletics' Jessica Earsman said.
"I think the kids all had a great time as well. It was great to see a big event happening again and hopefully we have many more."
Athletes aged 13 to 17 will compete in a separate NSW championships, the Youth State Championships, on March 27-28.
The Youth qualifying is by direct nomination.
"Little Athletics have set qualifying standards that have to be achieved so it's a direct nomination for athletes who have met those standards, and who can show they met those standards at a carnival or event we held," Earsman said.
Athletes are restricted to a maximum of four events.
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