Ipswich’s marathon man Darrin Norwood.

AFTER a disappointing first two days of competition, Ipswich’s marathon man Darrin Norwood pondered retiring from national masters events.

However, the tenacious sportsman is glad he soldiered on.

Norwood completed his third Australian Masters Championships in Canberra with an athletics medal tally of five gold, three silver and one bronze.

He won 11 of his 24 individual and pentathlon events over the Easter long weekend.

However, Norwood also displayed his resilience.

Having excelled at his past two national titles, Norwood had higher expectations on the first two days of his latest titles.

But having to be in three places at the same time and being disqualified in the discus and 110m hurdles left him questioning taking on such a huge challenge.

“My first two days were really bad, competing wise and managing my time properly,” Norwood admitted.

“I expected a lot of myself but I didn’t really reach where I wanted to be at.  I was ready to shut up shop and come home.”

However, preparing to turn 34 in July, the former decathlete quickly dismissed any thought of giving it away.

Norwood decided to see what he could salvage from the gruelling long weekend.

It was during his incredible recovery that Norwood came within 200 points of the Australian point score record for outdoor pentathlon.  He also set two personal bests and four season bests in his 30-34 years competition.

“The second two days everything just clicked and went smooth,” the Ipswich and District Athletic Club competitor said.

“To come home with what I did, I was very surprised but also very happy.”

Norwood competed in everything from the 60m, long jump, javelin and discus, to high jump, shot put, 110m hurdles, hammer throw, triple jump and pole vault.

“It was a little bit more competitive this year,” he said.

“We had a lot of decent athletes come down from NSW because it was so close.”

One of fearless Ipswich athlete Darrin Norwood’s personal bests was for his weight throw pentathlon total (2623 points), where he came second overall.

Other season bests came in the shot put (12.11m), javelin (48.77m), weight throw (10.57m) and discus (38.92m).

Having finished on a high, Norwood said he would re-evaluate his competitive future after having a rest.

The Ipswich athlete also returned from Canberra feeling less sore than previous demanding campaigns.

“I made sure this time I managed my body a lot better, which I did,” the personal trainer said.

Amazing Effort

Ipswich athlete Darrin Norwood’s Australian Masters Championships performance at Canberra over the Easter weekend.

Friday:  5th 60 metres (8.35);  2nd long jump (5.35cm);  1st javelin (42.97cm).

Saturday:  1st high jump (1.60cm);  2nd shot put (11.88cm);  4th hammer throw (29.65m).

Sunday:  1st triple jump (11.31m);  1st pole vault (3.10m).  Weight pentathlon ― 4th hammer throw (29.36m), 2nd shot put (12.11m SB), 1st discus (37.83m), 1st javelin (48.77m SB), 2nd weight throw (10.48m), Total points:  2623 (2nd PB).

Monday:  4th weight throw (10.57m PB).  Outdoor pentathlon:  equal 1st long jump (5.39m), 1st javelin throw (46.03m), 2nd 200m (25.44), 1st discus (38.92m SB), 1st 1500m (5.18.87), total points:  2657 (1st SB);  3rd men 4x400m relay (4.02.68).