Batlow boys Jack and Riley Gould, as well as dad Jamie, did the family name and Batlow proud at the Athletics NSW Country Championships held at Maitland Regional Athletics Centre from last Friday to last Sunday.
They came back with a swag of medals.
On Saturday morning, Jamie, 52 competed in the 50-59 men’s 100m heats and ran a time of 14.31 to finish in sixth place and qualified for the 100m final. He ran the 100m final, placing fifth with a time of 14.14.
On Saturday afternoon he competed in the 400m, placing second, with a time of 1:04.09.
Riley competed in the Under 20s 400m, finishing in second place with a time of 53.33.
Jack, 21, competed in the Opens 400m, placing sixth with a time of 51.40.
On Sunday afternoon, Jamie competed in the 50-59 800m and got first place with a time of 2:37.61.
Riley, 18, competed in the Under 20s 800m, finishing in seventh place with a time of 2:07.58.
Jack competed in the Opens 800m and got second place with a time of 1:58.99.
As Jack explains, it wasn’t easy going for any of the competitors.
“It was really windy, pretty crap conditions,” he said.
“We got free accommodation because the place we were staying flooded before we got there. We were racing against the wind the whole time. The races were very tactical. No one wanted to take the front because they were running into the wind. It was the most extreme conditions I have competed in.”
However, it was great to be up there with family members.
“It was really good,” he said.
“Dad is the most relaxed one, joking and keeping calm, whereas me and Riley are nervous. Riley is fitter and faster and believing in himself a bit now.”
Jack lamented missing out on first place in the open 800m by 70 milliseconds.
“It was a bit of a bummer because if I had won it, it would have been six times in a row,” he said.
“My five-year winning streak ended.”
But Jack has qualified for the NSW Open Championships at Olympic Park in Sydney in March, and if he can run about 80 milliseconds faster than last year he will qualify for the Australian Athletics Championships in April.
“I’ve got to do a little bit better than last year, but I’m feeling faster than last year.”
He has been training hard at Batlow.
“Mainly in the Forestry roads up there,” he said.
This allows him to train at an altitude of 1000 to 1200m, giving him a unique advantage.
“Others have to drive seven hours to Falls Creek and I’ve got it here in my backyard,” he says.
