Hundreds of Canberra's best junior athletes have hit the track for the Belconnen regional schools track and field carnival as the push begins to upgrade the capital's athletics facilities.
Primary school-aged students went head to head at the AIS Athletics Track on Tuesday, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Commonwealth Games silver-medalist Cameron Myers or former Australian 100 metres record holder Melissa Breen.
Hundreds of students from schools across the region competed and then cheered for their classmates as athletes went head to head. Results and potential record-breakers will be confirmed on Wednesday.
Students from south of the lake will get their chance to chase records later this week when they compete at the South-Weston region primary school track and field carnival at Woden.
The events come as Capital Athletics launched talks with the ACT government and the Australian Sports Commission about upgrading the AIS and Woden facilities.
The AIS athletics track was one of the premier venues and one of the fastest surfaces in Australia after a $2 million upgrade in 2019.
Woden is the only other athletics-focused facility in the capital, but its inner field has been used for rugby league and rugby union this year after asbestos was found in the ground at Phillip Enclosed Oval.
Capital Athletics is keen to work with the governing bodies and ACT government to invest in upgrading Canberra's two facilities.
"In partnership with our national body, Australian Athletics, Capital Athletics has commissioned a full facilities audit to assess the current and future needs of athletics in the ACT," Capital Athletics boss Adam Horner said earlier this year.
"This work will look at the current condition of athletics facilities, the pressures facing the sport, and the key initiatives required to support inclusive, safe and accessible facilities that enable athletics to grow.
"The report is due towards the end of August and will help frame Capital Athletics' future advocacy across the sport, including with government and facility owners.
"The ACT also has limited dedicated athletics infrastructure. There are only two all-weather athletics tracks: the AIS track and Woden Athletics Park.
"The AIS is not generally available to community clubs, while Woden Athletics Park is home to one of our largest clubs and is in significant demand for school carnivals, community events and broader athletics use.
"Both sites are at or nearing end of life, and Capital Athletics is continuing to work with the relevant governing bodies, including the ACT government and the Australian Sports Commission, to support the refurbishment and improved use of these facilities."
