WALKS

During 2011 four of our race walking members established eleven world records between them. Three of these athletes came from Victoria and one from Western Australia. Ever since our AMA awards were introduced in 1998, being the recipient of the Walks Award has been the toughest award to win due to the incredible quality of our race walking fraternity. The recipient of this award set four world records during 2011 over the distances of 10km, 20km and 30km.
Congratulations: M65 Andrew Jamieson Victoria

DISTANCE

Our recipient for the distance award is ranked number one in the world for their age group in the 5000m and 10000m as well as the 1500m. They also hold the world records for these events. So it comes as no surprise that our recipient had great success at the Sacramento WMA Championships where they won the 1500m, 5000m, cross country and marathon.
Congratulations: M55 Keith Bateman New South Wales

MIDDLE DISTANCE

The amazing thing about this recipient is that they have only completed their debut year as a member of master’s athletics yet they have literally hit the ground running with eight Australian records over both middle and longer distance events. Twelve months ago they competed at their first national championships in Brisbane, winning all events contested. This success was follows by participation at the World Championships where they won silver medals in the 1500m and the 5000m as well as a bronze medal in the 800m.
Congratulations: W70 Lorraine Lopes Western Australia

SPRINTS

Our sprint recipient managed to set six Australian records in the 60m, 100m and 200m during 2011. They also won the four sprints for their age group at the AMA Championships and continued that success with three medals in the sprints at the World Championships. Our recipient was also a member of two of the Australian world record relay teams, the W45 4 x 100m and the W45 4 x 400m.
Congratulations: W45 Julie Brims Queensland

JUMPS

Our recipient continues to remain one of the outstanding jumpers in the world. Year after year they have delivered on performance. In fact they have never been beaten in a jumping event at their club since 1986. At the AMA Championships in Brisbane, they won three medals, two gold and one silver. At the World Championships in Sacramento, they again won three medals, one gold and two silver, against some very tough opposition.
Congratulations: W60 Margaret Taylor Australian Capital Territory

THROWS

Our recipient has had outstanding success at the end of their age group when they achieved gold medals at the World Championships in hammer, heavy weight and the throws pentathlon. Their success was recognised at home when they were recognised as the ACT Masters Sportsperson of the Year. Our recipient then entered a new age group and has already established an Australian record in the hammer and ACT records in discus and the heavy weight.
Congratulations: W65/70 Jan Banens Australian Capital Territory

MULTI EVENTS / RELAYS

During the year a number of athletes have shown outstanding achievements in the multi events. In this same period five relay teams have enjoyed the success of breaking a world record. Two have been in the 4 x 100m, two have been in the 4 x 400m and one in the 4 x 800m. The multi events/relay award goes to a team that broke the world record by over 8 seconds.
Congratulations: W65 4 x 400m
Marge Allison, Peggy Macliver, Anne Stobaus, Noreen Parrish Australia

ADMINISTRATOR / OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR

The recipient for this award has worked for our sport over many years and in particular has taken on a very important role behind the scenes for the past twelve years. Every Australian athlete who holds a national and/or a world record does so because of the meticulous work of this person. His attention to detail has meant that our sport has very accurate and bona fide records and that every person who has set an Australian or World Record also receives a certificate for that performance. Personally I have never ceased to be amazed at the high number of records set by Australian athletes every year.
Congratulations: Clyde Riddoch Victoria

MOST OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE

The recipient of this award demonstrated incredible strength of mind and ability, fortitude, courage and a belief in never letting a situation get the better of you, let alone consider the option of giving up. A week before the world championships in Sacramento our recipient broke their arm whilst hurdle training. After medical attention our recipient decided not to have the arm set and wore an arm brace so that they could still compete. The event was the decathlon. Our recipient won the respect of his opposition and the officials by competing successfully in all ten events, including having to pole vault with the use of only one arm. He managed six personal bests, including three state records. This was a most outstanding individual performance to win a bronze medal in a very competitive field.
Congratulations: M40 Mark Jeffrey Western Australia

MOST OUTSTANDING FEMALE ATHLETE

The recipient for this award has had a most outstanding year which included gold medals wherever she competed, from state through to national and world championships, over whatever distances she competed in. During 2012 our recipient achieved a world record right at the end of her age group with an age grade percentage of 101.33%. She is only one of two people who hold a world record set at the end of the age group. Then towards the end of the year and into a new age group, the world records started to tumble rapidly with another three being set over three different distances. With such an outstanding year our recipient was honoured by being named the IAAF Female Masters Athlete of the Year.
Congratulations: W50/55 Lyn Ventris Western Australia

MOST OUTSTANDING MALE ATHLETE

Our recipient has had a most outstanding twelve months with numerous Australian records and two world records. Very few athletes could claim four gold medals in their specialist events at the AMA Championships, then go to the World Championships, run faster and win another three gold medals in these events and then come home and run even faster in these same events. Besides setting 16 Australian records in the four shorter sprints, our recipient took almost half a second off the 400m world record and then reduced this time by another one second. The M75 400m record now stands at 64.10 sec, an amazing time.
Congratulations: M75 Hugh Coogan Queensland

Steve Lance
AMA President

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/australianmastersathleticssurvey

Timetable and entry list available now. See the AMA 2012 page.

SPRINTS / HURDLES

Finalists

W70 Anne Stobaus Vic
M75 Hugh Coogan Qld
W45 Julie Brims Qld
M70 Mick Stevenson Tas
W50 Julie Forster NSW
W60 Lyn Peake SA
W65 Peggy Macliver WA
M60 John Lamb ACT

MIDDLE / STEEPLE

Finalists

M75 David Carr WA
M65 Don Mathewson NSW
M55 Keith Bateman NSW
M70 Peter Sandery SA
W70 Lorraine Lopes WA
M50 John Jago Tas
W60 Kathy Sims ACT

DISTANCE

Finalists

M70 Peter Sandery SA
M55 Keith Bateman NSW
M60 John Herridge Vic
W55 Anne Ryan Qld
W70 Lorraine Lopes WA
M45 Bruce Graham ACT

JUMPS

Finalists

W60 Wilma Perkins Qld
W60 Margaret Taylor ACT
W40 Lynette Smith NSW
M45 David Hoyle Vic
W55 Dawn Hartigan Vic
M75 Dennis Peck SA
M55 Gary Ralston WA

WALKS

Finalists

W60 Heather Carr Vic
W50/55 Lyn Ventris WA
M60 Andrew Jamieson Vic
M40 Stuart Kollmorgen Vic
W60 Liz Feldman Vic
M65 George White SA
M55 Peter Bennett Qld
W45 Anne Staunton-Jugovik ACT

THROWS

Finalists

W65/70 Jan Banens ACT
W75 Heather Doherty Qld
W75 Val Worrell Vic
M45 Stuart Gyngell NSW
M75 Tom Hancock Vic
M70 Barry Koch SA
W100 Ruth Frith Qld
W30 Byrony Glass WA

MULTIS / RELAYS

Finalists

W50 Marie Kay Qld
M40 Mark Jeffrey WA
W65 4 x 400m Aus
W60 4 x 400m Aus
W45 4 x 400m Aus
M65 8km Cross Country Team Aus
M50 4 x 800m Aus
M35 Geoff Gibbons Tas
M80 Rad Leovic ACT

ADMINISTRATOR / OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR

Finalists

Craig Palmer SA
Trish Thomas ACT
Richard Blurton WA
John Oldfield WA
Clyde Riddoch Vic

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE

Finalists

M40 Mark Jeffrey WA
W65 Anne Lang SA
W50 Marie Kay Qld
W50/55 Lyn Ventris WA
M55 Keith Bateman NSW
W80 Norma Wallett ACT

MOST OUTSTANDING FEMALE ATHLETE

Finalists

W65 Marge Allison Qld
W70 Anne Stobaus Vic
W50/55 Lyn Ventris WA
W60 Heather Carr Vic
W50 Julie Forster NSW
W60 Lyn Peake SA
W70 Lorraine Lopes WA
W65/70 Jan Banens ACT

MOST OUTSTANDING MALE ATHLETE

Finalists

M65 Andrew Jamieson Vic
M55 Keith Bateman NSW
M70 Peter Sandery SA
M75 Hugh Coogan Qld
M75 David Carr WA
M45 Bruce Graham ACT

Full entry lists will be available here as soon as possible, but the organisers have a big job with 670 entries being made.

Best of luck to all those who are to compete.

The change of dates had been requested by the LOC after an announcement that the Government had agreed to fund a complete renewal of the athletics and community facility known as CETE. Government officials met with WMA President Perkins and Secretary Winston Thomas in November to detail their plans and at that time confirmed that the full cost of the project had been approved so that work could proceed.

Full details at the WMA site.