World Champions Lead Ambassador Visits for Coles Community Round

Australia's latest World Athletics Champion Nina Kennedy headlines a group of 13 past, current and emerging Australian track and field stars who will be making special appearances at Little Athletics centres over the next two weeks for Coles Community Round.

Nina Kennedy (WA, pole vault) will be joined by current dual Para-Athletics World Champion James Turner (ACT, T36 400m & 100m), reigning Diamond League champion Matthew Denny (Qld, discus) and Australian track and field royalties 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.

With five Paralympic and Olympic gold medals and 15 World Championships between them, the Aussie stars are set to be hit among the next generation of track and field 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 from stores across Australia will also be supporting their local Little Athletics centres with banana donations and visitations.

Nina Kennedy, who has recently re-signed as a Coles ambassador alongside Sally Pearson OAM, Matthew Denny, Kelsey-Lee Barber (Qld, javelin), Brandon Starc (NSW, high jump) and Jaryd Clifford (Vic T12/13 middle/long distance) said she was 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 said.

"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 said 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 said.

"We're delighted to be able support Coles Community Round by sending seven of our Little Athletics Australia ambassadors – James Turner, Richard Colman AM, Nana Owusu (Vic, sprints), Jordi McMillan (SA, sprints), Jackson Mellor (Tas, discus & hammer throw), Emelia Surch (Qld, long jump & hurdles) and Sophie White (WA, hurdles) to regional and metro centres over the next two weeks."

"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 from Wednesday, 8 November to Tuesday, 21 November. The Coles and Little Athletics Australia ambassadors who will be making appearances at local centres during Coles Community Round are:

Little Athletics Centre (Suburb)

Athlete

Date of appearance

ACT

Ginninderra

Jaryd Clifford

Saturday, 11 November

Corroboree

Jaryd Clifford

Saturday, 11 November

Woden Thunder

Kelsey-Lee Barber

Saturday, 18 November

Tuggeranong Tornadoes

Kelsey-Lee Barber

Saturday, 18 November

Cooma

Jaryd Clifford

Saturday, 18 November

Calwell

James Turner

Saturday, 18 November

New South Wales

Quirindi

Jordi McMillan

Thursday, 9 November

Tamworth

Jordi McMillan

Friday, 10 November

Gunnedah

Jordi McMillan

Friday, 10 November

Penrith Valley

Kelsey-Lee Barber

Friday, 10 November

Nepean

Kelsey-Lee Barber

Friday, 10 November

Mt Druitt

Brandon Starc

Friday, 10 November

Kings Langley

Brandon Starc

Friday, 10 November

The Ponds

Brandon Starc

Thursday, 16 November

Girraween

Brandon Starc

Friday, 17 November

Holroyd

Brandon Starc

Friday, 17 November

Inner West (Concord)

Nina Kennedy

Friday, 17 November

Canterbury

Nina Kennedy

Friday, 17 November

Randwick Botany

Nina Kennedy

Saturday, 18 November

South Eastern (Moore Park)

Nina Kennedy & Brandon Starc

Saturday, 18 November

Queensland

Balmoral

Kelsey-Lee Barber

Wednesday, 10 November

Ipswich

Matthew Denny

Friday, 17 November

Laidley

Matthew Denny

Friday, 17 November

Gold Coast

Emelia Surch

Friday, 17 November

Runaway Bay

Emelia Surch

Friday, 17 November

Aspley

Emelia Surch

Saturday, 18 November

Wynnum Manly

Emelia Surch

Saturday, 18 November

Warwick *

Matthew Denny

Saturday, 18 November

Helensvale

Sally Pearson

Saturday, 18 November

South Australia

Tea Tree Gully

Matthew Denny

Sunday, 12 November

Reynella East*

Matthew Denny

Sunday, 12 November

Eastern Districts (Glenunga)

Matthew Denny

Sunday, 12 November

Campbelltown*

Nana Owusu

Sunday, 12 November

South Coast (Victor Harbor)

Jordi McMillan

Friday, 17 November

Woodville

Jordi McMillan

Saturday, 18 November

Victoria

Doncaster

Sally Pearson

Friday, 10 November

Camberwell-Malvern

Sally Pearson

Saturday, 11 November

Waverley (Glen Waverley)

Sally Pearson

Saturday, 11 November

Brimbank (Deer Park)

Richard Colman

Saturday, 11 November

Coburg

Richard Colman

Saturday, 11 November

Keilor

Richard Colman

Saturday, 11 November

Oakleigh

Nana Owusu

Saturday, 11 November

Buninyong

Richard Colman

Friday, 17 November

Sherbrooke

Nana Owusu

Saturday, 18 November

Tasmania

Kingborough

Brandon Starc

Saturday, 11 November

Queenborough

Brandon Starc

Saturday, 11 November

South Launceston

Jackson Mellor

Saturday, 11 November

Launceston

Jackson Mellor

Saturday, 11 November

North Launceston

Jackson Mellor

Saturday, 11 November

Western Australia

Baldivis

Nina Kennedy

Friday, 10 November

Swan Valley (Ellenbrook)

Sophie White

Saturday, 11 November

Hamersley

Sophie White

Saturday, 11 November

*Indicates locations where other local athletes/centres will be involved

NB. Athlete appearances are correct as of Wednesday, 8 November 2023, however all athlete visits listed are subject to change if affected by weather, COVID, illness or travel or other events.

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