BEST WISHES: Ipswich club athletes (from left) Larissa Chambers, Cassie Purdon and Filoi Aokuso are competing on their home track tomorrow night before contesting the World Junior Championships.
THREE Ipswich-coached athletes have shown their dedication and ability by qualifying for the World Junior Championships in America next month.
They will proudly represent their city and country, coming from one of the strongest regional clubs in Australia.
Tomorrow night, Ipswich and District Athletic Club representatives Larissa Chambers, Filoi Aokuso and Cassie Purdon will compete on home soil before completing their preparations with the national junior team.
The talented teenage trio will go through their paces at a special night program at Bill Paterson Oval.
Chambers, 18, will contest 100m events at 6pm and 7.30pm at the Ipswich venue. She is coached by Ipswich and District Athletics Club president Vic Pascoe.
Purdon, 17, will display her high jump skills at 6.15pm. She works with respected regional coach Bailey Pashley.
Aokuso, 18, is competing in discus at 7.35pm. She has continued her national level success working with Ipswich throws coach Mike Moore.
Pascoe said the mini carnival was an ideal time to wish the city’s young stars well before they head to the World Junior Championships.
“It’s also a great opportunity to see the top 16 in the world for their age,” Pascoe said.
“I don’t think three in one group from any regional club in Australia (other than Ipswich) has made that level so it’s damn good.”
Tomorrow night’s meeting was organised as part of national team requirements to maintain the athletes’ fitness.
Although Chambers, Purdon and Aokuso have already qualified, team officials requested they compete in three meets and a club-organised event before leaving Australia.
Pascoe and other club officials were keen to put on tomorrow night’s mini carnival to help their teenage achievers.
The carnival, supervised by Queensland Athletics officials, is open to the public who are invited to cheer on the three athletes before they leave on July 3.
The national team heads to Vancouver for some pre-World Junior Championships meets before arriving in Eugene, Oregon, on July 16.
The World Junior Championships start on July 22.
