2013 McDonald’s State Cross Country Season gets underway

The McDonald’s State Cross Country Season gets underway on May 5th with more than 2000 athletes from across the State expected to take part over the next three months.

The season starts with a meeting at the Hills Little Athletics Centre at Heathfield and culminates with the McDonald’s State Cross Country Championships at the Noarlunga Little Athletics Centre, Morphett Vale on July 21.

Eleven cross country meetings are programmed over the season with athletes aged from five to seventeen taking part.

Athletes compete over varying distances according to their age - starting at 40 metres for the tiny tots up to three kilometres for under-17 athletes.

In addition to the official program of events, mums and dads are encouraged to take part in an event, as well as Tiny Tots taking part in their own “dash”. Each meeting concludes with a Family Fun Run.

Certificate presentations are conducted during the lunch break of each meeting and at the end of competition. All participating athletes’ performances are recognised with a McDonald’s Certificate.

Little Athletics SA Executive Officer Pamela Sard said we’ll see more athletes taking part in cross country this season because of a record 7946 registrations for Little Athletics in South Australia this year.

“Cross country is a testing discipline that increases athletes fitness ready for the summer and we’re confident of attracting more athletes to meetings this season, said Ms Sard.

Little Athletics or Little Aths as its affectionately known is a uniquely Australian sport for children aged 3-17 years and provides an opportunity for them to participate in a wide range of running, jumping, throwing and walking events.

In South Australia, Little Athletics has 58 Centres across the state with an average of 6,000 boys and girls participating each year.

McDonald’s is proud to support the South Australian Little Athletics and has been a sponsor since 2005.

For more information, visit www.salaa.org.au

• 2013 McDonald’s State Cross Country Program
• May 5  Hills Little Athletics Centre, Heathfield High School, Heathfield
• May 12 Adelaide Eagles Little Athletics Centre, South Parklands, South Terrace
• May 19 South Coast Little Athletics Centre, Victor Harbor School Oval, The Parkway, Victor Harbor
• June 2 Flinders Little Athletics Centre, Flinder’s University, Bedford Park
• June 9 Eastern Districts Little Athletics Centre, Kensington Gardens Cricket Club, Kensingston Gardens
• June 16 Barossa Valley Little Athletics Centre, Bethany Reserve, Tanunda
• June 23 Gawler Little Athletics Centre, Dead Man’s Pass Reserve, Gawler
• June 30 Mid-Coast Little Athletics Centre, Tatachilla Lutheran College, Tatachilla Road, McLaren Vale
• July 7 Salisbury East Little Athletics Centre, Carisbrook Reserve, Salisbury Park
• July 14 Tea Tree Gully Little Athletics Centre, Bulkana Oval, Banksia Park
• July 21 McDonald’s State Cross Country Championships Noarlunga Little Athletics Centre, Wilfred Taylor Reserve, Morphett Vale

For more information please contact:
Simon Hatcher Hughes Public Relations (08) 8412 4105 or simon@hughespr.com.au