Sport News

Track and Field

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Mr Rob Martin and Mr Thomas Prole – Co-Head Coach, Track and Field

Marist Track and Field | Uniform

A reminder that the DRESS CODE for all T&F training sessions is as per the 2026 Track and Field Handbook. MCA sports shirts / Marist T&F singlet, Marist sports shorts, and white or blue socks.

For competitive events including Internal Mini Meets, the DRESS CODE is as per the 2026 Track and Field Handbook. Marist T&F singlet, Marist sports shorts, and white or blue socks.

It is important we get this right now throughout the AIC Practice Meets, and we will be competing in the AIC Championship AS A TEAM wearing this uniform.

Marist Track and Field | Track and Field Camp Review

From Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 September, 60 students participated in a dynamic Track and Field camp making use of the College facilities, the Sleeman Sports Complex and the University of Queensland. The camp provided an invaluable opportunity for the squad to connect with the proud history of the Marist Track and Field program, sharpen their athletic abilities, and further strengthen a culture built on hard work and humility. A special highlight was the inclusion of 11 Year 6 students on Friday, who joined the squad at the University of Queensland Athletics Facility. Their participation offered an early introduction to the high standards and close bond of the Marist Track and Field program.

The camp began on Thursday at the College with testing, strength training, speed assessments, and a cardio and resilience session under the guidance of Mr Rob Martin, Mr Thomas Prole, Mr Laurie Boustead, Tom Grinham, Mr Adam Earnshaw and Mr Drew Smith. 

Mr Martin and Mr Prole also provided a season overview to align focus and goals for the coming days. That afternoon, the squad travelled to UQ for an internal meet, competing under pressure and refining their competitive edge. Friday was devoted to intensive training at UQ, supported by a pool recovery session and downtime for balance.

On Saturday, the group returned to Marist for team-building activities, rounding off the camp with a focus on camaraderie and connection to the College. These activities reinforced unity within the squad and prepared the team for a strong showing at the upcoming AIC Championships.

We extend our gratitude to the outstanding coaching team, whose expertise and dedication were central to the success of the camp: Mr Rob Martin, Mr Thomas Prole, Mr Bill Prole, Mr Laurie Boustead, Mr Eric Brown, Mr Des Davis, Mr Tim Castley, Mr Brendan Saunders, Mr Peter Loli, Lee Martin, Tom Grinham, and Tom Dempsey.

Marist Track and Field | September Holiday Training and Meets

The September school holidays were an excellent period for Marist with training sessions held throughout the break and several practice meets at UQ. These sessions provided valuable opportunities for athletes to refine their skills, record performances, and push for team selection with faster times and bigger distances.

The camp was the first major event, with a large group of students training at UQ and living together for several days. This was an important part of our preparation, allowing athletes not only to train but also to bond. It was pleasing to see new leaders step forward, while our Year 6 students also joined in, further building connections with older teammates.

At the practice meets, it was with great pride that we saw so many athletes turn up on the bus to UQ, and the spirit of competition continued with many event selections changing during this period. A special thank you goes to St Edmund’s College, St Patrick’s College, Padua College, Ambrose Traecy College, and St Laurence’s College for joining us at the two holiday meets, creating a stimulating and competitive environment for all.

Training sessions at Marist were also well attended despite many students travelling or away, highlighting the commitment of our squad. This dedication is why team places are so competitive, with so many athletes striving to be part of every event.

We are grateful to the Marist staff and coaches who generously gave up their time over the holidays to support the athletes. Their dedication ensures these sessions are both challenging and enjoyable. With this preparation after a busy Term 3, we now look forward to seeing our team compete at the end of Week 1, Term 4.

Marist Track and Field | AIC Track and Field Championships

This Thursday and Friday, Marist College Ashgrove will aim to secure its 12th successive AIC Secondary Track and Field Championship and 6th successive Primary Championship. The squad has worked tirelessly throughout Term 3 and the September holidays, with many students attending the Track and Field camp, training sessions, and practice meets.

The team is well prepared and motivated, with the Opens squad leading by example through their commitment and desire to see every athlete reach their potential. Under the expert guidance of our c0-Head coaches, Mr Rob Martin and Mr Thomas Prole, and an outstanding group of coaches, the squad is ready to give its best and compete for continued success.

As we head into the Championships, we acknowledge the significant contribution of our coaching staff, whose expertise and dedication have prepared the athletes so well: Mr Rob Martin, Mr Thomas Prole, Mr Bill Prole, Mr Laurie Boustead, Mr Matt Green, Tyler Galligan, Ms Molly Keir, Mr Eric Brown, Mr Des Davis, Mr Tim Castley, Mr Connor Duggan, Mr Brendan Saunders, Mr Peter Loli, Lee Martin, Tom Grinham, Zac Milligan, James Prole, Joel Drew, and Tom Dempsey.

The task will not be easy, with other schools determined to challenge Marist’s momentum. However, our captains, coaches, and athletes have worked while others have rested, and they are ready to bring their best to QSAC this week. We wish the Primary and Secondary teams every success and warmly welcome supporters to cheer them on.

A full report on results will feature in next week’s newsletter.

Marist College Ashgrove Athletics Report - QLD State All Schools Titles 2026

(Oct 1-4) from Mr Rob Martin – Co-Head Coach

Photo Credits - Danielle Sibenaler Photography, Kylie Nyssen and @fotolamalan Sports Photos

Marist Track and Field | Pathways

With the 2026 AIC Championship fast approaching and families looking beyond early October, there are plenty of options to stay involved in Track and Field for the remainder of 2026 and beyond.

Over the past few seasons, we have had students follow a range of different pathways to remain involved in Track and Field competitions.

Some students will continue training for upcoming State and National events, while others will focus on training and preparation for the following season. Below, Mr Martin and Mr Prole have outlined some pathway options to help families better understand the opportunities available.

OPTION 1 - QLD ATHLETICS ALL SCHOOLS CHAMPS (Qualifier for All Schools Nationals)

As a pathway to further develop your athletics, a number of students may wish to compete at the Queensland All Schools Championships (October 1–4), with the opportunity to qualify for Nationals in Perth in December if you finish in the Top 2. There is no pre-qualifying time or distance required for the Queensland All Schools Championships; simply register, pay the entry fee and compete in your Marist T&F uniform.

All keen athletes between 12–17 years can compete if you register as per the instructions below. Note that for this meet, 12-year-olds will compete in the 13 Years age group.

Steps to register as follows –

STEP 1: Get a Membership -

Register as a Base Member ($0 member fee, No Club) OR register with a Club (e.g. Ashgrove Rangers – different membership level and club fees apply).

Cost - $32 per event at States for non-members, or $10–$22 per event with Platinum/Gold membership.

Link to Register: Queensland Athletics Membership

If you wish to compete in Perth in 2026 if you qualify, you should register with a club such as Ashgrove Rangers (member details below).

STEP 2: Register for the Queensland All Schools Titles

Link to Register: Queensland All Schools Titles Registration

NOTE - Entries close 9am Tuesday 22 September. There are no extensions to this deadline.

Competition Dates: Thu 1 - Sun 4 October

OPTION 2 - 2026 JUNIOR CLUB PATHWAY

For those wishing to enter the club season and potentially qualify for Nationals in April 2027, you can similarly register for membership with a club and compete at a range of pre-meets before the Queensland State Club Championships in March 2027. These meets will begin in late October 2026. Registering as a member in STEP 1 above will start the process.

Boys can qualify through entry standards. This can be a great incentive as it provides athletes with a clear time or distance to work towards. The main thing to note is that these championships begin at U14 level (or U13 in our school age-group system).

Australian Athletics Entry Standards

STEP 1: Get a Membership - Register as a Base Member (No Club) OR register with a Club (e.g. Ashgrove Rangers – base member fee + club fee).

Note that different levels of membership have different fees and options.

Link to Register: Queensland Athletics Membership

OPTION 3 - LITTLE ATHLETICS PATHWAY

For junior athletes in Years 5 and 6 in particular, Little Athletics can be a great introduction to competition and provides an opportunity to learn the basic movements and techniques before progressing with more specialised coaching in your preferred events. Arana Hills Little Athletics and The Gap Little Athletics are two nearby options for Marist athletes.

Arana Hills Little Athletics     The Gap Little Athletics

OPTION 4 - Sunday Sessions

Most Sundays, Mr Martin and members of the coaching team will continue to offer off-season running, fitness, sprints and selected field events, depending on those attending. Except for some State Championship weekends and major meets, these sessions will continue throughout the year. They provide an opportunity to support your other sports while developing speed, fitness and athletic ability.

Students can also discuss training options for their preferred events with Mr Martin and Mr Prole, with guidance available on finding external coaches if required to progress further.

GENERAL QUERY - WHAT MEMBERSHIP DO I NEED?

If you have any questions about the above pathways, please contact Mr Martin at robin.martin@bigpond.com or Mr Thomas Prole at prolet@marash.qld.edu.au. They can step you through the process and assist with any questions from parents.

QLD Athletics All Schools Pathway | National All Schools Qualifier

For those pursuing representative pathways, the Queensland Athletics All Schools Championships will provide a qualification opportunity for the National All Schools Championships in Perth in December 2026.

The Queensland Athletics All Schools Championships will be held on the last weekend of the school holidays. All athletes aged 12–17 years are eligible to register and compete.

Those interested in pursuing this pathway are encouraged to register and participate. More information will follow, but please register early and speak with a Mr Martin or Mr Prole if you have any questions or concerns.

Please note: This pathway is separate from the Met North pathway to the Queensland Secondary Schools Championships in mid-October.

QLD All Schools Pathway: Queensland Athletics All Schools Championships

Marist Track and Field – Social Media 

@marist_ashgrove_sports

Marist College will continue to showcase incredible moments in Track and Field again this year, from Year 5 victories to exceptional feats by our Year 12 students, all vividly captured on our social media pages.

Follow us and stay up-to-date with Marist Track and Field on Instagram - @marist_ashgrove_sports

Rugby Union

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Term 4 | Optional Preseason Training

Preseason rugby union training for current Year 9-11 students will kick off in Term 4 with an optional five-week training block. This is a great opportunity for any interested students to learn how to train both on the field and in the gym. 

Mr Richard Graham, Mr Chris Daykin, Mr Ieti Fetalaiga and Mr Charlie Taylor will lead the field sessions, whilst the athletic development will be under the guidance of our Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Mr Adam Earnshaw and assisted by Mr Drew Smith.

There will be a meeting in the Draney Theatre during Break 1 on Wednesday, 7 October, to discuss details and expectations. The training block will begin on Monday, 12 October.

For all updates and information, please follow the notices on the Parent Orbit. 

Marist Rugby Union | Scrum Club

In 2026, Mr Chris Daykin and Mr Doug Perrers will again lead the Term 4 Scrum Club program. They will be assisted by some excellent coaches invited to share their expertise in this area of the game.

The scrum is an integral and unique part of Rugby Union. The contest between two well coached and well-conditioned packs is both compelling and exciting.

Effective scrummaging requires teamwork. Each individual must understand their role, how to be an effective scrummager, and how to achieve this as a member of a forward unit.

Whilst the rugby union scrum is a means of restarting play after a stoppage which has been caused, it is always necessary to ensure safety at all times is our key focus when forming scrums.

A key part of our rugby safety here at the College is educating and supporting students’ development. The Scrum Ready Conditioning Program will continue to take you through the journey of developing and conditioning individual body strength, control and shape.

The aims of all the Marist Scrum Ready Program is to -

1. Educate students on key strengthening exercises
2. Educate students on the correct technique
3. Develop the ability to maintain a safe, strong and stable body
4. position
5. Reduce injury risk by improving the above

The five week program will consist of one on field session and one gym session per week. Further information to follow in the Term 4 newsletter.

Marist Rugby Union – Social Media 

@marist_ashgrove_rugby

In 2026 the College consistently delivered some wonderful rugby memories through our social media pages. From the smallest bumblebees in Year 5 through to the biggest bumblebees in Year 12, all of it was captured in wonderful colour.

To stay connected with Marist rugby and with all the program’s achievements, please follow our Instagram page @marist_ashgrove_rugby.

Swimming

Mr James Boyce - Director of Swimming

New Zealand Short Course Championships

During the school holidays, Archer Mellifont, Thomas Bedggood, Sam Mapledoram and Tomas Fitzpatricktravelled to New Zealand to compete at the New Zealand Short Course Championships.

Before highlighting their results, I want to congratulate all four boys on the way they represented themselves, Marist College Ashgrove and our swimming program throughout the trip. Their behaviour, professionalism and support for one another were outstanding, and I could not have been prouder of the group.

This trip was about much more than results. It provided the boys with an opportunity to step outside their comfort zones; experience competing away from home and challenge themselves against some of the best swimmers in New Zealand. Across five days of racing, they continued to step up, qualify for finals and produce some outstanding performances.

Archer Mellifont

• 100m Backstroke: 4th overall, recording the 8th-fastest short-course time ever by a 17-year-old
• 100m Freestyle: 15th overall
• 50m Butterfly: 9th overall and 3rd in the 17–18 Years Age Group
• 50m Backstroke: 6th overall and 2nd in the 17–18 Years Age Group

• 50m Freestyle: 13th overall

   

Thomas Bedggood

• 100m Freestyle: 26th overall and 3rd in the 16 Years Age Group
• 50m Butterfly: 42nd overall and 8th in the 16 Years Age Group
• 200m Freestyle: 13th overall and New Zealand Champion in the 16 Years Age Group

• 50m Freestyle: 47th overall and 11th in the 16 Years Age Group

   

Sam Mapledoram

• 100m Freestyle: 48th overall and 8th in the 16 Years Age Group

• 50m Freestyle: 39th overall and 6th in the 16 Years Age Group

   

Tomas Fitzpatrick

• 100m Backstroke: 18th overall and 3rd in the 15 Years Age Group
• 100m Freestyle: 65th overall and 12th in the 15 Years Age Group
• 200m Backstroke: 19th overall and New Zealand Champion in the 15 Years Age Group
• 200m Freestyle: 23rd overall and 5th in the 15 Years Age Group
• 50m Backstroke: 37th overall and 5th in the 15 Years Age Group

• 50m Freestyle: 83rd overall and 14th in the 15 Years Age Group

   

A huge congratulations to all four boys on a fantastic week of racing. To return home with two New Zealand age-group titles, several podium finishes and a number of finals appearancesis an outstanding achievement, but equally impressive was the way the boys represented our program throughout the entire trip.

Well done, boys.

AIC Swimming 

Before turning our attention to swimming, I would also like to wish our AIC Athletics Team the very best as they compete at the AIC Athletics Championships this Thursday and Friday. We wish all athletes and coaches every success.

For our Years 7–12 swimmers, AIC Swimming training officially begins tomorrow morning from 7:00am–8:00am.

Today marks 154 days until the AIC Swimming Championships.

While that may seem like a long way away, it will come around quickly. The work we put in now builds the foundations for what we are capable of achieving when championship day arrives.

Swimming rewards consistency. Improvement does not come from one great session or occasional effort; it comes from turning up, week after week, being prepared to work and making the most of every opportunity to improve.

This season, our focus will be on collective strength.

If we want to go one better this year, success will not come from one or two standout swimmers. It will take the contribution of every swimmer, across every age group. Every training session matters. Every race matters. Every point matters.

Our challenge over the next 154 days is simple: turn up, work hard, support your teammates and keep getting better.

We do it together.

Marist Swimming | Sign On

Families are reminded that students must be officially registered for the 2027 Swimming season.

For full details, please visit Parent Orbit. Students must sign up via the Student Café, with parents or caregivers confirming registration through Parent Lounge and ensuring all medical information is up to date.

Completing this process allows the College to plan appropriately for coaching numbers, lane space and resources.

Important: Students who are not registered will not receive swimming program communications, including training schedules and important updates.

For any enquiries, please contact swim@marash.qld.edu.au.

Primary School Training – Term 4

Year 5 (2027)Training begins Wednesday, 7 October, with Wednesday afternoon sessions continuing throughout Term 4. Monday sessions will commence from Monday, 2 November.

Year 6 (2027)Training begins Wednesday, 7 October, with sessions held on Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings.

Years 7–12 (2027)

Training for Years 7–12 commences Wednesday, 7 October, from 7:00am–8:00am.

The timetable for the opening week is listed below.

Year 5 - 2027

Year 6 - 2026

Year 7 – 12 – 2025