1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: Now the NT Track and Field Championships get underway at 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: Marara Stadium tomorrow. It is set to be an action 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: packed few days of sport, with people coming from right 4 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: across the Northern Territory to take part and joining us 5 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:17,760 Speaker 1: on the line. Athletics NT CEO Lian Chin, good morning 6 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: to you. 7 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 2: Leanne, Hey Katie, how are you. 8 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 3: I'm very good. 9 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 1: You sound like you're busy, sound like you're doing stuff 10 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: in the background there already for the weekend. 11 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 2: Leone a little bit, you know when you know what 12 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 2: they say when it rains at fours and everybody, all 13 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 2: the vendors and everyone's coming in all at the one 14 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 2: time to bump in. So action packed at the stadium today, 15 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 2: I bet it is. 16 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 3: Now. 17 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: How many people are you expecting to take part? 18 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,279 Speaker 2: We've got around three hundred and fifty athletes this weekend 19 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 2: and as you said in your intro, they are from 20 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 2: across the top end and all the way down to 21 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 2: Alice Springs. But we've also a great contingent into state 22 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:04,399 Speaker 2: athletes coming up too. 23 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 3: Awesome. How many of you got coming from other states? 24 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:15,680 Speaker 2: We've got approximately seventeen give or take that have entered. 25 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 2: You know, sometimes we find that. You know, flights get changed, 26 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 2: but we anticipate everybody all alive. 27 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 3: Hopefully they do. Hopefully they all get here. 28 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,399 Speaker 1: Leand are they coming from, like from North Queensland or 29 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: from whereabouts? 30 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 3: So they are they all heading here from? 31 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 2: I have to say we have got someone from almost 32 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 2: every state. We've got good some friends coming from WA. 33 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 2: We have someone coming from SA, couple from Victoria, couple 34 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 2: from Queensland. Tazzy might be a little bit too far 35 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 2: to come, but I think after the weather this past 36 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 2: weekend they would appreciate the warmth. 37 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 3: I reckon they would. 38 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: It'd be great to have them here and I think 39 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: it's wonderful to see people here from all around the nation. 40 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: For the NT Champs are from what's on on the weekend. 41 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 1: Are there kids that are going to be able to 42 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: qualify and adults as well? For other competitions following on 43 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: from this one? 44 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 2: Absolutely so. The NT Track and Field Championships is the 45 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 2: pathway into national Championships for the ten to twelve year 46 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: olds through school Sport Australia. They will head down to 47 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,359 Speaker 2: Sydney at the end of November and then the Australian 48 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 2: All Schools Championships, which is in Brisbane in December, and 49 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 2: that's for under fourteen through to under eighteen age athletes. 50 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 2: Masters there's always a pathway into either Masters Games or 51 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: the National Masters Championships later in April next year. 52 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: And lead in terms of the ages of people competing 53 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 1: this weekend, you what's the youngest and then I suppose 54 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 1: what's the oldest age category as well? 55 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 2: Well, we had such a broad age group here in 56 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 2: the territory. So our youngest will be turning nine this 57 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 2: year sometime between before the thirty first of December, and 58 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:22,639 Speaker 2: then our oldest athlete is eighty seven years old, so 59 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 2: it is quite quite the variety of. 60 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 3: Athletes eighty seven. That is awesome. 61 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 2: It is Maggie, and Maggie not only you know, does 62 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 2: track and field, she's a great swimmer as well and 63 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 2: has won international medals as well. 64 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 3: How wonderful. 65 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 1: And for those out there listening that maybe haven't been 66 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: to see the track and field for a while, I mean, 67 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: the Olympics really did spark a lot of interest for people. 68 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: But it's not just about the running, Like there's the 69 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,119 Speaker 1: high jump. There's all sorts of stuff, isn't there. 70 00:03:55,240 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 2: That's exactly right, you know, the phrase run throw an 71 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 2: activity for everybody. We will have athletes with disabilities throughout 72 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 2: the weekend as well as people without disabilities or able 73 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: bodied athletes. So there is athletics provide something for everybody. 74 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 3: It truly does. 75 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 1: Speaking of those that are competing at the Olympics and 76 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: also the Paralympics, we know that one of the sixteen 77 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 1: year olds from the Northern Territory will form a territory 78 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: and as I understand it. 79 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 3: Walpre sprinter Taliah Blacksmith. 80 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: She set a record qualifying for the women's four hundred 81 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: meters sprint in the T twenty in Paris overnight. Pretty 82 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 1: incredible stuff and no doubt inspiring lots of young Territorians. 83 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:53,159 Speaker 2: Absolutely. The team was fortunate to meet Talaya in Perth 84 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 2: last year at the Old Schools competition and they really 85 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 2: were inspired by her enthusiasm and the fact that this 86 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 2: young lady has come from simple beginnings. There are similar 87 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 2: to them, and she has gone on to Parera Olympic 88 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 2: glory and Oceania Area record. 89 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 3: Wonderful stuff. It's so good to see. 90 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,799 Speaker 1: It's so good to see all the young and older 91 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 1: or more mature people out competing over the weekend. 92 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 3: Leanne. 93 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 1: It's going to be a busy few days, so kicking 94 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 1: off tomorrow afternoon, right. 95 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,919 Speaker 2: That is correct, from three pm. Our session starts with 96 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 2: our junior athletes and then we roll into our older 97 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 2: athletes and we do our distance events, the fifteen hundred, 98 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 2: which I hope you've got your running shoes on, Katie, 99 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 2: because you are out there on Thursday evenings. 100 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 1: I am, I've got my running shoes ready, lie and 101 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 1: I don't off it will help. 102 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 2: Then everything will culminate on Saturday evening with some master's events, 103 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 2: so if anybody would like to come and have a 104 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 2: look at track and field, And we've also got a 105 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 2: big announcement to make over the weekend in regards to 106 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 2: an international competition. So just a little bit of a 107 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 2: teaser there. 108 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: Oh, sounds very exciting. An international competition. I won't ask 109 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: you any more questions in case I guess what. 110 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 3: It could be. 111 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 2: No, well, it's not the Commonwealth Game, but it is 112 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 2: going to happen in twenty twenty six. 113 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 3: Wonderful stuff. 114 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: Wonderful, wonderful stuff, so potentially for us here in the 115 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:42,239 Speaker 1: Northern Territory. 116 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 2: I'm guessing well, wait, absolutely so, an international competition coming 117 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 2: to the territory in twenty twenty six and we'll be 118 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 2: able to involve our Southeast Asian neighbors as well. So 119 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: it's a little bit exciting. 120 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: How great and you know, I know, you know my 121 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: thoughts on having sport here in the Northern Territory and 122 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: what it does in terms of not only helping our 123 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: young people and well and those more mature as well. 124 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 3: But it's great for the. 125 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 1: Economy to have different events here in the NT too. 126 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 2: Absolutely. You know, we get our big footy games and 127 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: we get some great car races and what have you. 128 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 2: But it's fantastic that we are able to branch out 129 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 2: into some of the you know, the smaller, smaller sports, 130 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: but of course you know they are international sports as well. 131 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 2: You know, there's no there's no Olympics without athletics. 132 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: Oh it's the highlight for me Leanne our family sat 133 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 1: up watching the athletics that so I know yours di itchy. 134 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 2: Absolutely, there's been some very late nights over the last month. 135 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 2: But you know, I've got to say that, you know, 136 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 2: we can't run this weekend. I have a great group 137 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 2: of interstate official fly in. These guys are coming this 138 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 2: weekend to volunteer and I really can't thank them enough 139 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 2: for volunteering their time and coming to the territory to 140 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 2: experience another level of competition. 141 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 3: Wonderful stuff. 142 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: Well lean chin all the best over the coming days. 143 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 1: Great to speak with you and I'll see you at 144 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 1: the track. 145 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 2: Fantastic, Thanks Katie. 146 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 3: Thank you. That is Leanchin there. 147 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: She is very busy at the moment organizing everything for 148 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: the NT Champs. They kick off tomorrow. She's indeed athletics CEO. 149 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:37,680 Speaker 1: And it's a wonderful event, no doubt, going to be 150 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: fantastic and so great to see people of all ages 151 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 1: out there on the track, you know, running, jumping, throwing, 152 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:49,319 Speaker 1: all the different all the different elements that you've got 153 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: when it comes to track and field, and so great. 154 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: I mean, three hundred and fifty athletes, that's going to 155 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: be fantastic from right across the Northern Territory and indeed 156 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: quite a few coming from other states. 157 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:00,559 Speaker 3: It's as well.