Knox Little Athletics Centre Inc.

Did you know that the current president of Australian Athletics was a Knox Little Athlete.

At Knox Little Athletics, we love celebrating the amazing journeys of our athletes — and few stories are as inspiring as that of Jane Flemming OAM.

Jane’s athletics journey began right here at Fairpark Little Athletics in the 1970s. Even as a young “little athlete,” her talent and determination shone through, setting the foundation for a career that would take her all the way to the world stage. 🏃‍♀️✨

Progressing to senior competition with Knox-Sherbrooke Athletics in the 1980s, Jane quickly made her mark. She won an incredible 13 national titles across heptathlon, hurdles, and sprints — achievements that placed her among Australia’s top athletes.

Her international career was equally extraordinary:

Silver medal in heptathlon at the 1986 Commonwealth Games 🥈

Gold medals in heptathlon and long jump at the 1990 Commonwealth Games 🥇🥇

Represented Australia at two Olympic Games, competing against the world’s best 🌏🇦🇺

Remarkably, Jane’s legacy still lives on at Knox. She holds records at Knox Seniors, inspiring young athletes to aim high and dream big.

Off the track, Jane has remained a powerful advocate for sport and community. She founded Flemming Promotions, supports youth health initiatives, and since 2023 serves as President of Australian Athletics, guiding the sport into an exciting future — including the 2032 Brisbane Olympics 💪🎉.

From grassroots beginnings at Knox Little Athletics to leading the national athletics body, Jane Flemming OAM’s story is a shining example of what passion, dedication, and hard work can achieve. She continues to inspire our athletes — and reminds us all that greatness often starts with a single step at your local club. 🙌💖

The Athletics Knox Board of Management, together with Knox Little Athletics and other tenant clubs, is pleased to acknowledge a recent $850 Grant received from Knox City Council through their Minor Grants Program.

This funding helped purchase a Synthetic Grass Sweeper, which will support the ongoing maintenance of the new synthetic grass areas installed as part of our recent facility redevelopment. The synthetic grass along the front straight and jump pits has been very well received by all members and has been a fantastic addition to our facility. 🌱

This is one of several grants received from Knox City Council in recent years. These contributions are vital in enabling the Board of Management to continue improving and enhancing our venue for athletes, volunteers, and the wider community. 👏

Today, we’re shining a spotlight on a remarkable athlete from our club’s early years – Astra Vitols, a Knox Little Athletics star whose talent has left a lasting legacy.

In the early 1970s, Astra achieved something extraordinary, setting multiple Knox and Centre Records in 1971 and 1972 that still stand today – 53 years later!

1971

🏅 Shot Put: 11.46m (Knox – set at State Champs)

1972

🏅 U12G Shot Put: 14.56m (Centre – normal competition)
🏅 U12G Discus: 35.59m (Centre – normal competition)
🏅 U12G Shot Put: 14.96m (Knox – set at State Champs)
🏅 U12G Discus: 36.99m (Knox – set at State Champs)

At just 21, Astra returned to athletics “just for a throw” – and after only two weeks of training, she placed 3rd at the Australian Championships!

From there, her career went global:

🇬🇧 1986 Commonwealth Games – Edinburgh: Final 8 (Shot Put)
🌍 Competed throughout Europe with the AIS team
🇪🇸 1989 World Cup – Barcelona: Selected for the Australian Team
🇳🇿 1990 Commonwealth Games – Auckland: Bronze Medal – Discus 🥉

👏 We celebrate Astra Vitols for her extraordinary achievements and the legacy she created for future Knox athletes.

As the weather has not improved this morning, and with athlete safety in mind, the committee has made the decision to cancel today’s meet.

See you all next Saturday for Program A.

With rain forecasted for the morning, the Executive Committee will be monitoring the weather closely and at the track from 7.00am. They will assess the situation and provide an update by 8:00 AM.

Please stay tuned to our Facebook page and website for the latest updates.

We will do everything possible to run the events, but the safety of all athletes remains our top priority when making decisions.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!