SPRINT AND MIDDLE DISTANCE COACH

Ian is a former athlete who was a state representative, he has been involved in athletics for over 35 years. With 25 years coaching experience through his job as a PE teacher, Ian is an excellent communicator with adolescent athletes.

Ian has a middle distance group of athletes aged from 10 to 18 and is an assistant coach with Peter Burdett’s sprint group.

Ian holds a Level 3 coaching qualification.

Middle Distance Training times

Monday’s 5:30pm

SPRINT COACH

Peter has been coaching for over 15 years with a back ground in beach sprinters. Peter then moved into Pro Running before turning to sprint coaching with PAAC.

Peter has had many successful athletes including:

3 Bay Sheffield winners 2010,11, 15

1 Female Bay winner 2018

3 Junior Bay winners 2011,12,13, 20

1 Female 70m Stawell winner 2019

Bronze medal u15 female 200m 2018

Silver medal u16 female 400m 2019

Numerous State Championship medallists

Peter’s sprint coaching sessions including 100m,200m and 400m.

Peter holds a Level 2 advanced coaching qualification and is currently completing his Level 3 coaching accreditation.

Sprint Training Times:

Open Session

Monday’s 5:30pm

THROWS COACH

Melissa first started athletics when she was 6 years old competing at Little Athletics and then moved on to Port Adelaide as a senior athlete.

Melissa can not run to save her life but has a passion for the throwing events. Melissa was one of the first women in SA to throw the hammer in competition and represented South Australia as a hammer thrower in both Under 16 & Under 18. Melissa has since concentrated on officiating and officiated at the Sydney 2000 Olympic & Para Olympic Games, the Melbourne 2006 & the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and various senior & Junior Nationals.

Melissa still occasionally competes in the over 35 throwing events at Athletics SA Stadium of a Saturday. Before having her first child early 2004, she was coaching a variety of athletes in the throwing events for Port Adelaide Athletics Club. After having her first child she decided cut back on coaching and soon had to give it away as throwing is not a safe area for a toddler, which over a 7 year period ended up being 3 of them.

Melissa was still competing and officiating and always enjoyed coaching so when her boys started Little Athletics she went back to coaching and have continued since.

Melissa is a level three coach in throws having been selected to go to New Zealand in 2018 to complete the CECS Level II Coaches course which she passed with full marks.

Melissa has a passion for athletics and especially the throws and loves to share her knowledge and see athletes of all ages improve each week and enjoy the sport as much as she does.

Throws Training times

Open sessions

Tuesday’s 4.30pm

SPRINT AND HURDLES COACH

Eliza is a certified level 2 athletics coach with over 10 years of competition and coaching experience. She is currently studying a Bachelor’s degree in Human movement and a Master’s in education. She is a former state champion and has represented South Australia at several national competitions.

Eliza is passionate about improving athletes with several state championship and SAPSASA medals won by her athletes. She combines her coaching skills and background in sports science to provide a strong foundation for young athletes looking to take the next step in the sport to senior competition and beyond.

Sprint and Hurdle training times (ages 8-12):

Wednesdays 5-6pm

SPRINTS COACH (JUNIOR)

Marcos is an accredited Level 2 athletics coach and holds a certificate 3 in fitness. He has achieved state championship medals in a variety of Jumps and sprints events and has represented South Australia on several occasions at national championships.

JUMPS COACH

Kalani is an accredited level 2 athletics coach with experience coaching athletes from all experience levels and ages in Long Jump, High Jump and Triple Jump.

Her squad caters for athletes aged 8 and up. She coaches all skill levels from complete beginners to advanced jumpers. Kalani has had great success with athletes at state-level competitions and provides a wealth of knowledge and experience to help athletes reach their full potential.

Jumps training times
(ages 8 and up):

Wednesdays 5pm

COACH