THE coronavirus outbreak has made an impact on many sporting events across the nation and the latest competition to suffer was the NSW Little Athletics State Championships.
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It was tough news to hear for the 18 Mudgee Little Athletics competitors who had earned a place at the weekend's championships, only to be told one day before that proceedings wouldn't go ahead.
Organisers made the announcement on Friday that they would cancel the event which was to be held at Sydney Olympic Park.
"Little Athletics NSW has been closely monitoring and evaluating developments regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak for the past week or more, with advice being sourced daily from the Australian and NSW Health departments," it read.
"News has just been received that a meeting today of State and Federal Governments has agreed to issue advice to cancel ALL public gatherings of over 500 people. As a result of this advice, we now confirm that this weekend's State Championships WILL NOT be taking place."
Mudgee Little Athletics president Kieren Bennetts said while the news was obviously disappointing to hear, the athletes have refocused, taking aim at the remainder of the season.
"All the athletes were clearly disappointed by the cancellation of the event, especially given they have been training so hard for it. But the athletes and their parents were all very understanding of the circumstances and the position that this put Little Athletics NSW, Athletics NSW and Athletics Australia in," Bennetts said.
"The athletes are all refocusing on the remainder of the Mudgee Little Athletics season and then hopefully the commencement of the school based athletics season."
The Mudgee athletes that were competing consisted of Alesha and Jorja Bennetts, Mollie Blackman, Sarah Darker, Eliza English, Eddie Flynn, Ziggy Gordan, Alyssa Hill, Chloe McGilvray, Ella Murnane, Brooke and Darcy Rayner, Byron Rosier, Georgina Stanley, Ashton, Nate and Riley Taylor and Joshua Watson.
Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Jay-Anna Sleeman
Reporter for the Western Advocate. First began as a sports journalist with ACM in 2018 before moving on to cover news and court.
Reporter for the Western Advocate. First began as a sports journalist with ACM in 2018 before moving on to cover news and court.
