KENNEDY AND CLARKE FINALISTS FOR WA SPORTS STAR

World Athletics Pole Vault Champion Nina Kennedy and World Para Athletics Championship Silver Medallist Rhiannon Clarke have been named as finalists for the prestigious WA Sports Star award at the upcoming WA Sport Awards.

The Athletics duo were named as finalists by SportWest and join an all-stars list of 12 WA Sport Stars including Matilda’s hero Sam Kerr, Australian Cricketer Mitch Marsh, and Sailing World Champion Matt Wearn.

Recently named the Bruce McAvaney Award for the Performance of the Year, Nina Kennedy’s 2023 is straight out of a Hollywood movie. Missing the Australian domestic season, Kennedy returned to the international stage and delivered a knockout season with multiple Diamond League podiums on her way to the World Championships.

Bouncing back from injury to the top of the World Athletics podium captivated the media and saw the UWA Athlete collect her maiden World Championship title alongside USA’s Katie Moon. Then leaving no room for doubt, Kennedy finished 2023 on top with a world-leading clearance of 4.91m to further her new Australian record.

Rhiannon Clarke delivered a historic year of results with the Australian Para-Athlete adding to her growing collection of titles. A dominant domestic season saw Clarke become the first ever Australian female athlete to claim three Women’s Open titles at the Australian Track & Field Championships with wins in the Ambulant 100m, 200m and 400m finals.

Contesting all three distances at the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, Clarke delivered a powerhouse campaign and broke multiple Oceania and Australia records. Matching her own Oceania record in the T38 100m, Clarke just missed out on a podium to place fourth in the 100m, as well as in the 200m. However, saving her best for last, Clarke delivered in the T38 400m where she crossed the line 62.36 to claim silver and set a new Australian record.

Athletics is no stranger to taking out the top honour, with Paralympian Madison de Rozario (2021), Javelin Thrower Kim Mickle (2013), and Pole Vaulters Steve Hooker (2008 & 2009), Paul Burgess (2006) and Dmitri Markov (2001) all winning the WA Sports Star award since 2000.  

The 2023 Sports Awards will also Pole Vault Coach Paul Burgess and WA official Matthew Vine contest the Coach of the Year award and RSM Australia Community Sport Volunteer of the Year award respectively.

Burgess delivered another strong year as head of WAIS Pole Vault program and coached Kennedy to gold and Kurtis Marschall to a bronze at the World Athletics Championships. A finalist in 2022 as well, Burgess has been shortlisted alongside Perth Scorchers Coach Adam Voges and Golf Coach Ritchie Smith.

Matthew Vine has been nominated for the inaugural RSM Australia Volunteer of the Year Award. The award acknowledges volunteers from community sports at the grassroots level, with Vine shortlisted with Connor Clarke (Kendo) and Renae Fussell (Football).

“It’s an honour to be nominated but also very humbling. To become a finalist for an award outside of athletics, being the whole of sport within Western Australia is quite an honour.” Vine said.

The 2023 WA Sports Awards are set for 29 February 2023 at HBF Stadium in Mount Claremont. A full list of all the 2023 WA Sport Award nominees, can be found HERE.

You can follow all of the athletics action from the 2023/24 Athletics West Summer Season presented by Go For 2&5 via Athletics West’s Facebook & Instagram pages.

For more information on how you can get involved in athletics, contact Athletics West on 0862720480.

By David Smith & Dylan Gane

Posted on 9 February 2024