New athletes pack Albany club

The Albany Little Athletics Club has been hit by a boom in registrations for the new season.

Close to 130 little athletes descended on the North Road athletics track on Saturday morning for the opening meet of the season, eclipsing last year’s number of 74.

After their registration day last month, which attracted 90 registrations, more youngsters turned out on Saturday morning, with the majority trying athletics for the first time.

After an active push to increase the profile of track and field events in schools, Albany Little Athletics Club committee member Mary Hansen said the number exceeded expectations.

“It’s the most we have had for quite a few years,” she said.

Albany’s jam-packed season program, which runs from October to April, includes hosting the Country Championships in November, as well as other big events, including the Peter Watson Mile on December 14.

Six weeks out from the Country Championships, Albany’s promising young athletes have begun preparations with mid-week training sessions on top of the usual Saturday meets.