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Katherine Times

32 KATHERINE TIMES, WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2013 www.katherinetimes.com.au Published by North Australian News for Katherine Times PO Box 42, Katherine NT 0851Registered by Australia Post - Publication No. SACO412 Printed by Northern Territory News, Darwin

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SPORTSIX months of long runs, hill

sprints, sore legs, early morningstarts and precious time away fromfamily has paid off for 12 Indigenousathletes who have earned their ticketto the New York Marathon in sixweeks.

Among the final team - which wasselected from athletes who com-pleted a 30km time trial in AliceSprings on the weekend - is Kather-ine man Justin Miller.

“The run was tough,” he said.“I came into it with a sprained

ankle and knees hurting and I pulledmy hamstring a few weeks ago so Iwasn’t training and to finish underthree hours is a good achievement.

“It was tough and tiring and Iwanted to stop but it felt like I can’tfail my kids because they are all sup-porting me – my family, my commu-

nity and everyone in my town, myworkplace, everybody is behind meso I didn’t want to stop even though Iwanted to stop, but it was good to getto the end and I can finally smile,”the athlete said.

Mr Miller, together with 11 otherinspirational athletes, who are part ofthe Indigenous Marathon Project, hadto complete the tough challengethrough the red desert streets to se-cure themselves a ticket to the BigApple.

Indigenous Marathon Projectfounder and former World Champion

Marathon runner Rob de Castellasaid the guts and determination andthe mentality of not giving up that hehad seen in all 12 athletes who madethe final team, was what the projectis all about.

“We have a truly amazing groupof runners this year and we have seeninjuries, struggles at home and manyother obstacles thrown at them timeand time again, but they keep bounc-ing back and showing that if theywant something, they can achieve it,”he said.

“I have absolute faith that every

one of the 12 runners will cross thefinish line in New York, and alongthe way they will inspire hundredsand thousands of people acrossthe world, but most of all they willinspire their families, their friendsand their communities to be health-ier.”

The squad, including Katherine’sJustin Miller, is now working on theirfinal six week block of trainingbefore departing for New York onOctober 31, where they will competein the prestigious New York Mara-thon, alongside 45,000 other athletes.

Greens - Page 30

Aroundthe

From Katherine to the Big AppleIndigenousMarathonProject

EASTSIDE have ended a 12-yearPremiership drought by defeating agallant Ngukurr Bulldogs by 15points in a classic grand final on Sat-urday night.

In a game of two halves it wasEastside who controlled the first halfwith Peter Jackson on top in the ruckgiving the running brigade of KeelanFejo, Robbie Braun and Marcus

Hamilton first use of the ball. The game was fast and furious

with both defences running and car-rying the ball out.

Ngukurr continued to bomb theball long into their forward line andstruggled to get past the solid East-side defence with Rex Isaac, JaydenKickett and Brian Coleman Broomeall on top.

At half time Eastside led sevengoals to two and seemed to have thegame in their keeping if they couldjust continue to control the Ngukurrrunning game.

Willy Kossack entertained the

crowd with his high flying exploitsalong with the fast leading ClementChulung who was everywhere in thefirst half.

In the second half the sun wentdown and the Ngukurr boys started tofind their run.

Full forward Mitch Hall started tohit the scoreboard and Jamahl Pontoand Cedric Robertson both started tohave an impact.

Jake Farrell was everywhere forthe doggies and along with Mike Wo-didg in defence Ngukurr started toget back into the game.

A four goal to two third term from

the Ngukurr boys closed the game upand there was everything to play forin the final quarter.

In the final term Ngukurr threweverything at Eastside and with bothdefences stretched it was Brian Cole-man Broome who stood up for theEastside team with a couple of clutchmarks including one great grab run-ning back with the flight to out marktwo Ngukurr players and save a goal.

Eastside had stopped and lookeddesperate to hang on while Ngukurrjust couldn’t find a way through thegreat defence set up by Eastside.

Siren.

Eastside won in a terrific battle oftwo good sides played in a great spiritthat the crowd enjoyed.

Brian Coleman Broome wasnamed the Morris Medal winner forBOG in the GF.

Best Eastside: B ColemanBroome M Hamilton R Isaac

Best Ngukurr: J Ponto M WodidgJ Farrell

Goals Eastside: M Hamilton 3 MDerksen 2 C Chulung W Kossack RAssan S Carr K Kossack one each

Goals Ngukurr: M Hall 3 D Hall2 P Daniels J Ponto N Farrell oneeach

BRFLby Denis Coburn

Eastside ends Premiership drought