Strong showing from Killcare Masters

Four women from Killcare Surf Life Saving Club competed in the State Masters Titles at Kingscliffe on Thursday, March 8.

Leah Fotofili, Michaela Hofer, Laura Washington, and Tegan Spackman, all in their mid to late 30s, had never competed in competitive running prior to 2009.

They represented their club, and according to coach John Bourne, they displayed great sportsmanship and skill at the surf carnival.

In the Over-35 sprint event, Hofer placed first, Fotofili second, Spackman third and Washington fourth.

In the beach relay, the girls won first place for their club, with a running order of Spackman, Hofer, Fotofili and Washington.

In the Over-35 flags, Spackman earned second place, Fotofili third and Washington fourth.

Hofer was unable to compete in the Over-35 flags event due to a broken hand.

The team formed in late 2009 when Spackman, Fotofili and Washington began to run competitively.

Their first competition as a team was the Killcare Masters Carnival in 2009 where they lost to a strong Toowoon Bay Team.

Mr Bourne said when the girls asked what they needed to do to win the Australian Championship he responded with "three years of hard work and dedication".

The team of athletes began training eight times a week, including three track training sessions, three gym sessions and three beach training sessions.

Bourne said the next competition they competed in was State and Aussies 2009-2010 in which they again did not place.

Hofer, a former gymnast who had never run before, joined the team later in 2011-2012 but injured herself not long after.

Hofer soon recovered and joined the team at State Titles at Kingscliffe, where she won the sprint and flags event.

The team then competed in Queenscliffe against nine other teams but dropped the baton, which put them in last place in the first leg.

The girls were able to recover and placed second behind Queenscliffe.

In the season for 2011-2012, the team had won every carnival they had entered until they competed in the East Coast Masters Championships at Collaroy, where Queenscliffe won the title.

Mr Bourne said leading up to the most recent competition the girls had shown themselves to be strong athletes within the community.

"I am confident that this team will win relay, sprint and flags at Aussies," he said.

"We are now well respected and well known in the fraternity," Bourne said.

He said it was a pleasure to watch the girls compete, showing their skill, dedication and sportsmanship.

Email, 26 Mar 2012 John Bourne, Killcare Surf Life Saving Club