Athletics (Track& Field)
About the Sport
Athletics, also known as Track and Field, is one of the most popular organised sports for people with disabilities. Athletics has been incorporated in the Paralympic Games since 1960 and events are open to males and females in all disability groups. Events allow for athletes with a vast range of disabilities to compete, whereby some compete in wheelchairs, others with prostheses and athletes with blindness/ visual impairment compete with the guidance of a sighted companion. Athletes compete according to their functional classifications in each event.
Paralympic Events
• Track - 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10 000m, 4 X100m, 4X 400m
• Field - Shot Put, Discus, Javelin, Club Throw, Long Jump, High Jump
• Road - Marathon
• Combined - Pentathlon
Classification
Athletes from all Paralympic disability categories compete across the following classes:
• Classes 11, 12 and 13: different levels of visual impairment
• Classes 32-38: athletes with different levels of cerebral palsy, both wheelchair (32-34) and ambulant (35-38)
• Classes 40-46: ambulant athletes with different levels of amputations and other disabilities, including les Autres
• Classes 51-58: wheelchair athletes with different levels of spinal cord injuries and amputations
How to get involved
"Get on the Track" Athletics Coaching Program
The "Get on the Track" Athletics Coaching Program encourages people with a disability to get actively involved in athletics by providing access to accredited coaches, sports equipment and a newly renovated facility. Partially funded through the City of Yarra's 2009 Community Grant's Program, WSV intends to develop this into a long term program for all athletics participants in Victoria. Held on the first Sunday of every monthy, WSV provides numerous accredited coaches across the variety of disciplines of athletics, including track racing, field and throws, and ambulant running.
Dates and Times:
Sunday 7th Feburary 10.00 - 12.00pm
Sunday 14th March 10.00 - 12.00pm
Sunday 11th April 2.00 - 4.00pm
Sunday 2nd May 2.00 - 4.00pm
Sunday 13th June 2.00 - 4.00pm
Sunday 4th July 2.00 - 4.00pm
Sunday 1st August 2.00-4.00pm
Sunday 12th September 2.00-4.00pm
Sunday 10th October 10.00 - 12.00pm
Sunday 14th November 10.00 - 12.00pm
Venue: George Knott Athletics Centre
Heidelberg Rd, Clifton Hill (Melway 30, G12).
Registration Form
To download a registration form, CLICK HERE.
Competition Information
Athletes can compete in a number of local club, state, national and international events each year.
The 2010 Victorian Championships will be held from Friday 26th - Sunday 28th March at Olympic Park in Melbourne, with a variety of AWD specific events available.
2010 Victorian Open Track & Field Championships Entry Form
For further information regarding competition scheduling, please contact Sport & Recreation Coordinator, Jared Keely on jkeely@wsv.org.au or 9473 0133.
Contact
For more information, please contact Sport & Recreation Coordinator on jkeely@wsv.org.au or (03) 9473 0133.