Despite it being a year in which training and competition was severely impacted by the COVID pandemic, Dubbo Athletics Club members continue to shine at the highest level.

There was plenty of accolades for the club recently, with a host of youngsters performing well at the NSW All School Athletics Championships at Homebush.

The highlight, undoubtedly, was the efforts of Ella Penman, Grace Peters, and Jack Cosier.

The trio returned home with a swag of medals between them, many of them gold, as well as selection in the NSW State Merit team.

In previous years the state team would go on to compete at the Australian All Schools Championships but that event has unfortunately been cancelled due to COVID.

"Despite the year we've had with COVID and everything, it was fantastic we were able to send a small contingent to Sydney and for them to perform them as well as they did and to have three in the merit squad is well above expectations," Gamble said.

"We knew they would do well but those achievements were fantastic.

"For them to come in and perform well, its' really pleasing and a sign of things to come. We've got the country champs and then the Little As regional and state championships early next year and then nationals."

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A number of Dubbo athletes have their sights set on the Australian Little Athletics Championships (ALCA), which are currently scheduled to be in Melbourne next April.

Penman, Peters, and Cosier fit into that category and they will go into 2022 competition with plenty of confidence after the efforts at Homebush.

Penman won gold in the 15 years 800m and 1500m while she also collected bronze in the 400m.

Peters also claimed a gold, winning the 13 years discus with an effort of 38.74m, while she also collected a bronze in the shotput.

Cosier, competing in the 17-19 years Para AMB category, won silver in both the discus and shotput and scored a bronze in the 100m sprint.

"Those three are perennial medal winners and they're working really hard," Gamble said.

"I honestly believe we'll have an Australian champion next year and if it's one of those three then it's even better."

There was 11 Dubbo athletes in total who competed at the All Schools carnival and each did the club proud.

Lockie Townsend was another who starred, winning silver in both the 19 years 1500m and 5000m and bronze in the 800m.

Other medallists were Max McAneney, who won bronze in the 14 years 400m, and Jakob Peterson, who won bronze in the 14 years long jump.

"Any time you win a medal is a special occasion and to do it at a state event is even better," Gamble added.

"It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. In the world of TikTok and social media, for kids to be getting out and being active in whatever sport they're playing is absolutely amazing.

"They're showing the hard work and dedication needed."

As well as showcasing the best of the club at the highest level, the rising stars of Dubbo Athletics Club are also already role models for the next generation.

With training sessions and competition starting to get back to some kind of normalcy, those taking to the Barden Park track and field for the very first time are seeing what opportunities are ahead of them.

"We had the recent Olympics and we were able to look up to those athletes and now to have medal winners here in the club, our younger athletes now have an eye-opening experience and they'll be in awe of this," Gamble said.

Barden Park will be the place to be in the coming weeks as the Dubbo Festival of Athletics Carnival is on January 8 and 9 before the facility hosts the Region 3 Little Athletics Championships on February 5 and 6.

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