TRIATHLETE Cameron Goodison has been named the Wellington Sports Star for 2013.
Goodison’s honour came during Friday night’s Wellington Sports Awards at Sporting Legends after a year which he gained podium placings at national events.
The Longford triathlete won the state 16 to 19 years Olympic distance championship at Sandringham. He also won the national qualifying series event at Geelong in the 16 to 19 years age group, finishing fourth overall out of 600 competitors.
The Olympic distance features a 1500 metre swim, 40 kilometre bike ride and 10km run.
Goodison came second for his age group at the national age championships in Tasmania and second in the open sprint event at the Gippsland championships.
In September, Goodison overcame a crash during the bike leg to come fifth in the 18 and 19 years event at the world championships in London. It came a year after he won a world championship silver medal.
As if completing the Olympic distance isn’t hard enough, Goodison will be stepping up in distance when he competes in a half ironman triathlon in Canberra in December.
Half ironman races comprise a 1.93km swim, 90km bike ride and 21.09km run.
“The Olympic distance is becoming more of a sprint, I’m not much of a sprinter,” he said.
Long-term, Goodison is aiming to compete at the gruelling Hawaii Ironman, comprising a 3.86km swim, 180km bike ride and 42.2km run.
Goodison claimed the Sports Star award ahead of a quality field of interim winners.
James Alen was recognised for his efforts during his first year in the senior ranks of Australian motocross. He was the overall winner in B lites at the state titles.
Josh Dunkley has had a stellar year on the football field, culminating in receiving a scholarship for the AFL-AIS Academy. Dunkley was part of the Victoria Country under 16 team which won the national championship and was named in the Gippsland League senior team of the year.
Josh’s sister Lara was named in the Victorian Netball League and Gippsland League teams of the year. She also captained Sale to its first Gippsland League A grade premiership.
Another netballer, Montana Holmes, was selected in the state under 17 team which won the national title. She also won the state league under 17 most valuable player award, won the Gippsland League A grade best-and-fairest and was part of Sale’s A grade premiership team.
Athlete Sarah Gardiner won hurdles medals at state championships and competed at the national junior championships in Perth.
Last year’s Sports Star Mia Ross was also nominated after winning the under 20 women’s 800 metres at the Australian junior athletics championships in Perth. She also won medals at state and national medals.
Rower Jackson Harrison won a silver medal in the under 23 men’s lightweight four at the national titles. He is ranked seventh in the country in lightweight single sculling.
Jack Robinson was recognised for his efforts to teach surf life saving skills in Sri Lanka. Robinson received the Life Saving Victoria Building Leaders Scholarship.
Young golfer Levi Sclater qualified for the state team and state primary schools championships.
The winners of five community categories were also announced on Friday night with the main honour, the Mayor’s Award, shared.
Eleven-year-old Amber Ross won gold and bronze state athletics medals and qualified to compete at the national titles, while the Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club under 23 women’s surf boat crew was also recognised after winning a state championship.
Efforts by the Maffra Gymnastics Club to promote broad community participation and maintain a welcoming environment were recognised when it received the inclusion award.
The Sale United Football Club’s senior men’s team was named the team of the year after winning its first Gippsland Soccer League premiership in 33 years. Its captain Ashley Ross was named the sportsperson of the year, having also won the GSL best-and-fairest award.
Sale Hockey Club president Ross Meredith was named the volunteer of the year.
Across all categories on the night, the individual winner received a cash prize as did their respective clubs.
The night concluded with entertainment from musical comedy duo Big Brother Little Brother.
The Wellington Sports Awards are presented by the Gippsland Times, Sporting Legends, Wellington Shire Council and Sporting Legends.
