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Track and field has been described as 'sport stripped to its barest essentials' - the human activity that centres around running or walking the fastest, jumping the highest or longest, and throwing the farthest. Yet as simple as this description seems, modern track and field competitors at the AIS in Canberra also enjoy the advantages that the most complex technological advances in sports science and sports medicine can provide. They have better coaching, better clothing, better shoes, better tracks and better equipment. Many of those advantages have been provided through the work of the world-class staff at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). AIS Coaching and Sports Science and Medicine staff work full time supporting :

• AIS Resident Scholarship holders who live full time in Canberra
• AIS Sports Science and Medicine Scholarship holders who visit the AIS in Canberra for periods of training time
• National Squad members during National Squad camps held periodically at the AIS under the direction of the Athletics Australia/AIS National Event Coaches based in Canberra (Tudor Bidder-HJ/400m/4x400m, Craig Hilliard –LJ/TJ/Hurdles and National Youth Event Coach Brent Vallance-Walks)

About AIS Track and Field

Track and Field was one of the eight founding sports when the AIS was established in Canberra in 1981, and is the major high performance training centre for Athletics Australia and performance training in athletics in Australia. Athletes have access to the world-class training facilities at the AIS, which include a brand new in 2007, all-weather mondo-surface athletics track incorporating electronic timing and photo-finish equipment and a brand new in 2007 indoor 115m long training and biomechanics testing facility for sprints, hurdles and jumping events, plus an extensive throwing field. Both outdoor and indoor facilities  are commonly regarded as amongst the fastest competition venues in Australia.

Athletes are supported by world-class coaching and sports science/sports medicine services, with education and career guidance playing an intrinsic role in the AIS Track and Field program's commitment to the holistic development of all athletes preparing athletes for their achievements in the sport and a career following their move from success on the Olympic stage. All AIS Track and Field Scholarship holders are expected to study or work during their time in Canberra.

The AIS Track and Field program integrates elite and emerging track and field athletes with a disability with their able-bodied counterparts. The goal of the program is to support, encourage, develop and optimise the talent of each athlete towards achieving the goals of Athletics Australia in winning medals at the Olympic and Paralympic level.

The AIS Scholarship Program consists of a maximum of 30 scholarship athletes including 8 dedicated places for athletes with a disability, along with two Sport Science and Medicine scholarship places and access to one additional place through the Gary Knoke memorial fund, if/when required.

Guided by the Athletics Australia High Performance Plan (2004-8) the AIS Scholarship program has a focus on walks, horizontal and high jumps,  400/4x400m Relays, hurdles and athletes with a disability. As such the AIS coaches are appointed as National Event or National Youth Event Coaches within the National Event Centre program of Athletics Australia.

The AIS program also hosts a series of national event group camps related to these disciplines and also youth and junior development training camps, on behalf of Athletics Australia in the role as the National Training Centre for the sport of track and field.

On the request of Athletics Australia, the AIS Scholarship Program has accommodated a small number of athletes outside of it’s event focus through to the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

Successful applicants to the AIS Track and Field program are offered either:

• a full residential scholarship that covers meals, accommodation on site in the new AIS Residential complex, plus coaching, sports science , sports medicine services, ACE and access to AIS facilities
• the opportunity to live off campus and receive the athlete living-out allowance, plus coaching, sports science ,sports medicine services, ACE and access to AIS facilities
• access to the sports science/medicine services in a non-permanent residential training camp setting for nominated medal winning potential athletes to supplement their preparation when needed, for defined short periods

Did you know?

Australia is one of only two nations to have competed in every modern Summer Olympic Games.

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