Region Championship 04/02/2023 to 05/02/2023
The Region Championships will be held at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Track (SOPAC) on the weekend of Saturday 4 February and Sunday 5 February 2023.
Date
04/02/2023 to 05/02/2023
Venue
Sydney Olympic Park
REGION QUALIFIERS & PROGRAM
Click here for the list of Region Qualifiers.
Click here for the full program.
First Marshalling Call: 7.40am. Events commence at 8:00am – both days.
UNIFORM
The Manly Warringah Centre [not club] Uniform must be worn with the following in order to compete. This is the same uniform that was worn at the Zone Championships:
- Cloth Registration Number on the front of the Centre Uniform top with the red border fully visible (this was handed at the State Relay Championships or Zone Championships)
- Coles Patch on the front right shoulder of the Centre Uniform top (this can be collected at check in if you don’t have one)
- Age Patch on the front left-hand side leg (this is worn at Saturday competitions)
Compression garments may be worn. For walks events compression garments must be above the knee
Please note, there will be no leniency shown at Region marshalling. Any competitor not correctly attired will be sent to the Team Manager to correct their uniform, but please note, the event will not be held waiting for them to return. It is essential that all athlete uniforms are checked by the Team Manager Assistants at check in prior to going to marshalling.
PARENT DUTIES
One parent duty will need to be completed per family at the Region Championships.
A link to the 2023 Region Championships Parent Duty Roster was emailed to the primary email address (used when registering) on Sunday 29th January at 8:00pm. Please get in quick to select a duty at your preferred time slot. Remember to check your junk folder if you don’t receive it.
All parent helpers must be wearing closed in shoes – No thongs or sandals.
In order to have your duty recorded you will need to sign in at least 15 minutes prior to the commencement of your duty and sign out at the conclusion of your duty with the MWLAC Team Manager located in Bay 8 in the grandstand. Please see the MWLAC website regarding the consequences for not performing your duty. We are sure you can appreciate the volunteer nature of Little Athletics across the State and will support your child and the Centre in this regard. Thank you.
VENUE ENTRY
Gates will open at 7am each day.
ATHLETE CHECK-IN AND MARSHALLING
On arrival ALL athletes must register their attendance with the MWLAC Team Manager located in Bay 8 in the grandstand. This must be done at least one hour before the ‘not before’ time as listed in the final program. Traffic can be heavy and parking can be difficult at SOPAC, please leave with plenty of time to ensure you have a stress free arrival for you and your athlete!
There will be a first and second call for every event. Events could be called up to 30 minutes prior to the ‘not before’ time ready to start at that time. Listen very carefully and only proceed to marshalling once the event is called but NOT before. If an athlete does not report at marshalling, the event will go ahead without them.
First field events proceed directly to the field event area. Field Marshalling will be on the hill at the South end of the venue behind Discus 2. Track Pre-Marshalling will be in the Marathon Tunnel. Athletes will then be taken by officials to marshalling on the track near the finish line. Access to both marshalling areas is via the concourse at the back of the grandstand only – NOT from the front of the grandstand or across the competition arena. Feel free to ask the Team Manager Assistants if you are not sure where to go.
ACCESS TO AND FROM THE COMPETITION
Please note the following in relation to access to and from the Competition Area:
- NO access to the track or field events from the front of the grandstand
- NO access to the grandstand from trackside
- Access to the grandstand is via the concourse only.
- Exit from the competition area is via the ‘first aid’ tunnel near the finish line only.
Athletes – Field events
- First events proceed directly to the field event area – athletes only enter the competition arena via the marathon tunnel only.
- Subsequent field events – proceed to field marshalling – as described above.
- After field event finish, athletes must wait to be escorted to the exit by an official.
- Medalists will be held and others should return to the grandstand via the back exit underneath the grandstand. Athlete exit where parents can meet their children will be marked on the venue map and have signage at the venue.
Athletes – Track events
- Proceed to ‘pre-marshalling’ located in the marathon tunnel.
- After completing a heat, athletes must leave the track via the ‘first aid’ tunnel and back exit underneath the grandstand.
- After a final, medalists remain for presentations. Others leave the track via the back exit as above.
Parent Helpers
- Access the field event areas via either the North end (Bay 6) or South end (Bay 13) access gate only
COMPETITOR FOOTWEAR
- Appropriate footwear is compulsory for all athletes in all events.
- No athlete may wear football boots or cleats in any event.
- Athletes in the U8 – U10 age group may not wear spike shoes.
- Athletes in the U11 – U12 age group may wear spike shoes in events run entirely in lanes only. Spike shoes may also be worn for long jump, triple jump, high jump, and javelin.
- Athletes in the U13 – U17 age groups may wear spike shoes in all track events (includes laned or un-laned events) except walks. Spike shoes may also be worn for long jump, triple jump, high jump, and javelin.
- All spike shoes must be worn with all holes filled with a complete set of spikes, with no more than two blanks/slugs installed.
- SPIKED SHOES cannot be worn outside the defined “field of play” unless all spikes are suitably covered.
STARTING BLOCKS
For track preservation and longevity, all athletes wearing spikes must use starting blocks in laned events up to and including 400m and the first runner of a relay. Para athletes excluded.
SPIKES
Only Pyramid or Christmas Tree spikes (also called compression tiered spikes) are to be used on the track for athletic activity. Needle spikes are not permitted. Spikes are only permitted on competition areas and must not be worn in spectator areas or indoors.
Maximum spike lengths:
- Running activity maximum of 7mm
- Throw and Jump activity maximum of 9mm
PARENTS/GUARDIANS
All athletes regardless of age must be accompanied to the Carnival by a parent or adult guardian.
Parents and guardians are not permitted in the competition area at any time unless wearing an appropriate lanyard to carry out a parent helper duty as explained elsewhere.
PARKING
$18 flat rate parking available in P1, P2, P3 and P4. Parking ticket validation at the SOPAC reception under the grandstand.
WEATHER
The Region Championships will go ahead regardless of the weather, so athletes and parents should come prepared with hats and sunscreen as well as umbrellas and raincoats!
In the event of extreme conditions – excessive heat, storms or flooding – the Championships may be delayed or temporarily suspended. Any decision to delay or postpone the Championships will be made by the Region Committee and advised to Centre Team Managers as soon as possible.
There is no back-up date – the carnival must be completed over this weekend.
WARMING UP
The warm up track will not be available.
Athletes may warm up on the outer concourse area but launching of throwing implements is not allowed.
Athletes cannot warm up on the track after 7.30 a.m. once the first marshalling call has been made on both days of the carnival.
There is no back-up date – the carnival must be completed over this weekend.
COACHES AREA - SENIOR ATHLETES ONLY
An area designated for Coaches to speak with athletes will be clearly marked on the perimeter fence for all field events. Seats will be designated for coaches in the grandstand where possible. Please respect the signage and leave the seats free.
The event chief/official will monitor and control crossing of the track if necessary.
Please note – There is to be no coaching for junior athletes in any field event
CLASH OF EVENTS
There will be a Clash Manager (and assistants) responsible for collecting athletes from field events and taking them to track events when there is a clash.
To assist this for athletes U8-U11, the Team Manager Assistants (or parent) are requested to write the child’s events on their hand each morning, along with the ‘not before time’ so that the Event Chief and Clash Manager can more easily identify any clashes during the day.
Event Chiefs will be instructed only to release children to designated Clash Manager/Assistants (identified by a lanyard). Please advise parents they MUST NOT remove children from an event themselves. If they do, the child risks disqualification.
Athletes will be collected from field events by the Clash Assistants and taken to the start of their track event. They will not be taken from the field event until the track event competitors are assembled at the start line.
To help track officials, athletes will be ‘tagged’ with a wrist band indicating the field event they have left. Athletes will be told to return directly to the field event but they will not be escorted back to the field event.
RESULTS
In addition to being posted in the window opposite the canteen on the concourse, all results will be available online as soon as possible after the event. You can access these results at www.littlearesults.com.
AWARDS
All competitors placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd in a final will receive a medal. Medals will be presented as soon as possible after the event.
Track medalists should remain in the designated area at the finish line until their medal presentation*.
Field medalists will be taken to the presentation area by an official at the end of their event.
Athletes in the 1500m Walk and 3000m run who do not achieve the qualifying times for the State Championships will still receive medals at Region for placing 1, 2 or 3, but will not progress.
*Athletes who need to return to a field event should make the track officials and medals officials aware, and a decision will be made as to whether the presentation is made immediately or held until after the field event.
MEDALS
Medals will be pre-engraved with the age group and event.
Ensign Engraving will be engraving on site from approx. 10am to 4pm if athletes wish to add additional engraving. They will be located on the Concourse in front of the Betty Cuthbert Room – between VIP Rooms 1 and 2. The cost will be just $10 to record the athlete name and performance details.
CATERING
A full canteen will be open both days and an ice cream/coffee van will be on the forecourt.
Please note home prepared food may be brought in to the venue, but it is NOT PERMITTED to bring in food from other outside outlets, such as Subway, McDonalds, Gloria Jean, etc.
As the major sponsor of LANSW, Coles will be providing a supply of bananas for athletes and spectators free of charge. These will be available from a tent on the forecourt near the entry gate.
WITHDRAWAL FROM EVENTS AT THE REGION 5 CARNIVAL
Please notify the Manager for Championships (championships@mwlac.org.au) and you will be provided with the relevant forms to be completed.
SERVICES AVAILABLE
The following services will be available:
- First Aid by MediFast
- Tensegrity Sports Chiropractors
- Kings Sports Store – Track and Field equipment and supplies – all day both days. (Between bays 5 & 6)
- Instant Photos -photos available for sale on site only –not be available online after the event.
- Ensign Engraving – as detailed above. (Outside the Betty Cuthbert Room between VIP 1 and VIP 2)
PROGRESSION FROM REGION TO STATE
U8: Competitors do not progress beyond Region.
U9 to U17: The first 2 place getters in a final automatically progress to the State Championships. In addition, the next best 8 competitors in each event across all 8 Regions will progress.
Only the first place Relay Team will progress to State level.
LANSW STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The State Championships will take place over two days – Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 March 2023 – at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre (SOPAC).
The State program is quite different to the Region 5 program, so all competitors (U9 and above) must check the program carefully to ensure you are available in the event of qualification.
WITHDRAWALS FROM NEXT LEVEL OF COMPETITION (U9 - U17)
Any athlete who may qualify to compete at the State Championship, either directly or as a ‘next best’ qualifier who knows they will not participate must advise the Team Manager BEFORE the end of the Region carnival weekend.
REGION GIFT
The next opportunity for any athlete who has not been able to collect their Region gift, will be at the next MWLAC competition day on 11th February at Narrabeen.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THE VERY BEST OF LUCK TO ALL ATHLETES WHO HAVE QUALIFIED TO COMPETE AT THE REGION 5 CHAMPIONSHIPS.
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