Ipswich and Queensland Schoolgirls hockey player Kelly McNamara has made the latest under-18 state side.
VERSATILE teenager Kelly McNamara heads to the Queensland track and field championships this week buoyed by another fine achievement.
The Marburg-based athlete has been named in the Queensland under-18 hockey team preparing for the Australian championships in Hobart from April 19-29.
McNamara, 17, is competing in the under-20 1500m and 3km steeplechase at the state titles starting on Thursday.
The Rosewood Little Athletics member has been one of the standout performers at the Ipswich and District Athletics Club in recent seasons, representing her club at state and national level.
The Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School student also lined up for Queensland at the Australian cross country championships in Canberra.
McNamara plays hockey for Hancock Brothers in the Ipswich A-grade competition and University of Queensland in the Brisbane competition. She received player of the final and best and fairest awards at UQ.
She also represented the Queensland Schoolgirls under-19 side on its successful tour of New Zealand last September. She was named Players’ Player during Queensland’s unbeaten campaign.
Her efforts over the past 18 months secured McNamara a nomination in the Sports Excellence category at the 2016 City of Ipswich Sports Awards.
Other Ipswich-based hockey players to make the latest state teams were Caleb McCoombes, Bailey Hoyland-Meaker, Mackenzie McAvoy and Emily Witheyman-Crump.
They’ll join McNamara at the national under-18 titles after being chosen from last weekend’s trials.
With Queensland sending one male and female team to the under-18 nationals, the competition for spots was hotly contested.
Ipswich competition regulars Zac Profke, Tyler Spry and Gabby Nicholls were named shadow players for their respective Queensland sides.
The latest selections follow a number of regional under-15 players also making state sides, highlighting Ipswich hockey’s nursery.
The new Ipswich season starts on March 10.
