Bunbury athletes to compete in 2016 World Masters Athletic Championships

The World Masters Athletic Championships will feature more than 4,000 athletes and 3,000 supporters from more than 80 countries. The Australian team alone is set to feature more than 1,400 competitors.

The starting ago for competitors is 35+ with five year age groups increase up to 100 years old. India’s Dharam Pal Singh, 100, will be the oldest competitor, entering the 100, 200 and 400 metre races.

Bunbury competitors will join in a number of track and field events including hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot putt and javelin. 

A welcome ceremony at Elizabeth Quay on October 25 will kick off 12 days of competition. There will be more than 60 events including track, jumps, combined and throws events, marathon and half marathon, road race walking and cross country. 

Bunbury racewalker and Australian Masters Athletics Hall of Famer Lyn Ventris is set to be one of two Australians invited to carry the national flag at the opening ceremony. 

The first-class WA Athletics Stadium in Mount Claremont will host a variety of events while Perry Lakes drive and the Alderbury and Perry Lakes Reserves will host the road race walking and cross country events. 

The marathon and half marathon will be held on the banks of the Swan River while the Ern Clark Athletic Centre in Cannington has been upgraded to international competition standard in time for the championships and will host the 5,000 and 10,000 metre walks and runs, heptathlon and throws events. 

2016 is the first time that Perth has hosted the championships in its 41 year history with Melbourne (1987) and Brisbane (2001) previous host cities.