PORT Macquarie’s best Aboriginal youth runners kept the Hastings at the top of the tree with an overall victory at the IMF’s National Deadly Fun Run Championships.
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In the shadows of Uluru on June 16 and 17, Port Macquarie made quite an impression.
The team, consisting of Rylan Hunt, Jamarra Moran, Noah Binge, Tyler Green, Chermeeka Fernando, Shontai Fernando, Lily-Rose Westaway and Kaiya O'Brien enjoyed the experience in their first trip to the Northern Territory.
Over 145 people from 25 different communities across Australia including Broome, Yarrabah, Kakadu, Illawarra, Cairns, Thursday Island and Mornington Island all competed in a relay around the significant landmark.
Port Macquarie team leader and mentor Lisa Connor said performances from Jamarra Moran, Chermeeka Fernando and Tyler Green were just three of the standouts.
“Jamarra who came first in the seniors in the five-kilometre run and then Chermeeka came second in the three-kilometre for the girls and Tyler came second in the three kilometre in the boys,” Connor said.
“It means everything to them to perform so well.
“They’ve achieved something where they are able to participate with other communities from around Australia and run with other groups.”
Connor said the opportunity to run in the relay around Uluru was the highlight.
“Being part of the whole experience of being so close to such a significant site … I think that was a big highlight,” she said.
Port Macquarie’s crown as the best team at the festival was judged on their overall showing across the weekend as well as their running results.
“The overall winners were the team that had showed resilience and took everything in their stride,” Connor said.
“It wasn’t just about who won the races, it was about being in the moment and being respectful of what they were there for.”
Connor said some of the members of the group wanted to compete in events such as the New York Marathon in coming years.
“For a few of the boys, that’s one of their long-term goals, to be a part of the IMP program in the future once they’ve turned 18,” she said.
“Anyone can achieve great goals.”