Some of the 23 Moree Secondary College students who will compete at the North West Secondary Athletics Trial in Tamworth on Friday, July 31, 2026. Photo: Moree Online News.
Before most of Moree is awake on Friday, July 31, 23 Moree Secondary College students will already be on the road to Tamworth for the North West Secondary Athletics Trial.
Each earned a place after reaching the qualifying standard at the school’s athletics carnival in early June. They’ll leave Moree at 5am and return about 7.30pm after a full day of competition against some of the region’s strongest school athletes.
The students will compete across a broad range of track and field events, although Head Teacher PDHPE Vicki Busse expects the college’s greatest strength to be on the track.
“We’ve got some good sprinters, we’ve got some good middle-distance and distance runners,” she said.
Among the athletes Ms Busse will be watching are Lakia, Leilahni and Chaz Noble, whom she described as some of the college’s standout competitors.
Lakia is entered in about eight events, while Chaz is competing in his final year at the college.
“Lakia’s in about eight events, and he’s very likely to make it to state, as is Chaz, who’s in his final year,” Ms Busse said.
“They really are shining.”
The team also includes Year 7 student Max Woods, whom Ms Busse described as a talented middle-distance runner with particular strength over 800 metres and 1500 metres.
Year 9 student Jamal Bailey is entered in the 200-metre, 400-metre, 800-metre and 1500-metre events and also trains with Ronnie’s Runners.
“Jamal Bailey in Year 9 is very talented, so they’re the ones that we’ll be keeping an eye on,” Ms Busse said.
The college has also entered three 4×100-metre relay teams. Ms Busse said its open boys and open girls teams had built a strong record at regional level and regularly performed well enough to progress further.
One of the biggest adjustments this year has been preparing athletes for compulsory starting blocks in the 100-metre, 200-metre and relay events. Moree Secondary College has only two sets, so students have been fitting extra practice around training on the school oval.
“The kids who are keen have been coming down to learn how to use them because it is a bit daunting,” Ms Busse said.
“That’s a bit of an obstacle they need to overcome. Last year it was pouring rain at Tamworth, so it was even more challenging for them, but I’m confident this year they’ll be a little bit more prepared and able to just jump in the blocks and go.”
Bailey has also practised block starts through Ronnie’s Runners, giving him additional preparation for the compulsory starts in Tamworth.
While the college has recently purchased some of its own athletics equipment, Ms Busse said limited access to specialised equipment was one reason the school traditionally performed better in running events than throws or high jump.
The July 31 trial will also give students the chance to compete on Tamworth’s synthetic track rather than the grass surface used for the school carnival.
“I encourage kids who have kind of just made the qualifying mark from the school carnival,” Ms Busse said.
“I know that once they get to Tamworth they’ll perform even better because it is a much more controlled environment and it’s a beautiful track.”
The regional competition brings together athletes from across the North West, including communities stretching from Collarenebri and Walgett to Armidale.
For Ms Busse, that level of competition is one of the biggest benefits of the trip.
“I think the good thing for our kids to see is actually how talented and how well-trained some of these other athletes are, and to see they’ve got a real commitment to their sport,” she said.
“That’s the part that tends to surprise our students and encourage them to try a little bit harder and get back to Moree and maybe train or join a running group.”
Ms Busse said the college typically had several athletes progress from regional competition to state level. The July 31 trial is the next step on that representative pathway for this year’s 23-strong team.
