Australia’s latest World Athletics Champion Nina Kennedy, among others, will be making appearances at Little Athletics centres over the next two weeks for Coles Community Round.
Ms Kennedy (Western Australia, pole vault) will be joined by current dual Para-Athletics World Champion James Turner (ACT, T36 400m & 100m), reigning Diamond League champion Matthew Denny (Queensland, discus) and Australian track and field stars Sally Pearson OAM and Richard Colman AM in visits to grassroots clubs and centres across Australia to share training and nutrition tips with aspiring athletes.
The appearances are part of Little Athletics Australia’s Coles Community Round where kids and families participate in activities such as dress ups, banana relays and shopping basket races. Coles team members will also be supporting their local Little Athletics centres with banana donations and visitations.
Ms Kennedy, who has recently re-signed as a Coles ambassador alongside Ms Pearson, Mr Denny, Kelsey-Lee Barber (Queensland, javelin), Brandon Starc (NSW, high jump) and Jaryd Clifford (Victoria T12/13 middle/long distance), says she’s looking forward to sharing tips and insights with young athletes.
“I’m so excited to get out to grassroots Little Athletics centres over the next two weeks for Coles Community Round to see and meet Australia’s future athletes,” she says.
“Having started my career in Little Athletics, I know how important the Little Athletics program is for kids coming through the ranks. I also know how special it is for kids to see their idols and role models in real life so I hope I can inspire even just one athlete to perform a personal best or to take the next step in athletics.”
Coles Little Athletics Australia CEO Myles Forman says nearly 300 centres will be taking part in Coles Community Round this year.
“Coles Community Round has gone from strength to strength since it was introduced nationally in 2021, with nearly 300 centres already signed up for this year’s round,” he says.
“The Little Athletics Australia Ambassador program is all about inspiring and guiding young athletes across Australia and Coles Community Round provides a great opportunity for our ambassadors to do just that.”
In addition to supporting Little Athletics through Coles Community Round, Coles has donated more than 3.9 million bananas and distributed over $2.4 million in sports equipment grants to grassroots Little Athletics clubs and centres since 2017.
Coles Community Round will take place between 8 and 21 November.