Janet - The Running Writer

Janet - The Running Writer I am a masters track and field athlete who enjoys writing about running. My passion is keeping fit and getting outside.

I have a background as a Physical Education teacher, event manager, and sports administrator. Since 2003, I have worked as a communications professional in three independent schools in Sydney. After taking a redundancy, I re-ignited my desire to work for myself and have taken on a number of freelance projects for a variety of organisations and have found my niche helping schools catch up on their

yearbooks. Outside of work, time is devoted to numerous volunteer roles within athletics, including writing about the amazing women who defy age and compete on the world stage.

Awesome result for an awesome athlete! Congratulations Nicki.
30/08/2026

Awesome result for an awesome athlete! Congratulations Nicki.

>> It’s Gold to Nicki!

Here is your world champion and gold medallist in the W50 High Jump - Nicki Drinkwater! Congratulations on a terrific result.

Also in action was Antoinette Baron who finished 12th in the W75 Shot Put while Nicki also raced in the 300m hurdles final and placed 4th.

More to come with Kriszta Kovacs in the W50 1500m final, Ryan Dowling in the M45 400m Hurdles final and David Neill still to race.

📸: Nicki with fellow medallists

It’s been a while since writing a personal post as I write for others and also enjoy my personal travels which have been...
23/08/2026

It’s been a while since writing a personal post as I write for others and also enjoy my personal travels which have been the subject of various travel diary and photo book projects.

With the World Masters Athletics Championships currently being held in Daegu, South Korea I have a fear of missing out but also fond memories of competing in Daegu for the World Masters Athletics Indoors back in the winter of 2017. And yes I used AI to create a collage!

While I did consider going and even booked some accommodation, I weighed up my positive memories of being the Aussie flag bearer and winning gold in the 4x200m relay versus the heat and humidity of a summer competition. I have worked out that for me, heat and humidity is not kind for performance. It’s probably a post-menopause thing so at my age I pick the competitions in locations that are more likely to suit me. I also think of future tourist travel plans!

If you enjoy my writings please also follow
UTS Northern Suburbs Athletics where I am part of a social media committee
Ron Bendall Track & Field Coach where I manage the page

Weekend wrap!
23/11/2025

Weekend wrap!

OH, WHAT A WEEKEND!

It was a huge weekend for our squad's masters athletes who contested the NSW Relays Championships at Blacktown.

Between them they helped their club UTS Northern Suburbs win nine gold medals, one silver and one bronze and set four meet records.

* Nicki Drinkwater 4 gold, 1 silver, 2 meet records
* Sarah Hall, 3 gold, 2 meet records
* Cynthia Thomson 2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, 1 meet record
* Antoinette Baron 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 meet record
* Janet Naylon 1 gold, 1 silver
* Jenny Schell 1 gold
* Tony Crimi 1 gold

📸: The squad in action (1,2,5,6,7 photos by Stuart Paterson)

This is my weekend planned!
14/11/2025

This is my weekend planned!

EIGHT IS GREAT

Eight squad members will represent UTS Northern Suburbs at the NSW Relays Championships at Blacktown this weekend.

Nicki Drinkwater is set for a busy time competing in seven events: the Open women’s and 200+ years women's shot put teams; the mixed 120+ years, women's 160+ years and 200+ years 4x100m teams; and the women's 120+ years and open women's B javelin teams.

Janet Naylon, Antoinette Baron and Cynthia Thomson will all line up in the women's 240+ years shot put team while Janet and Cynthia will team with Jenny Schell in the women's 240+ years 4x200m.

Later in the weekend Cynthia and Antoinette will join Sarah Hall in the women's 240+ years javelin team.

Cynthia will also run in the women's 240+ years 4x100m while Sarah will take her place in the women's 240+ years 4x400m and women's 240+ years 4x100m B team.

Amy Thake will contest the open women's 4x1500m while Tony Crimi will run in the men's 240+ years 4x200m relay.

08/11/2025

AND IN SUMMARY . . .

At the Oceania Masters Cup in Tonga, squad members won:
* 8 gold medals;
* 11 silver medals;
* 2 bronze medals;
and set one personal best.

In the 55+ years age group, Janet Naylon won gold in the long jump, pentathlon and 4x100m relay; and silver in the 60m, 100m and medley relay.

In the 60+ years age group, Sarah Hall won gold in the triple jump, pentathlon, 400m and long jump; silver in the 60m, 100m and 200m; and bronze in the discus and javelin.

In the 75+ years age group, Antoinette Baron won gold in the hammer throw and silver in the shot put, discus, javelin, weight throw and throws pentathlon. She also set a PB in the hammer throw.

📸: Tonga action - Antoinette, Sarah and Janet (photos by Stuart Paterson)

It's International Olympic Day! Here's a short piece I wrote and some photos of UTS Norths Olympians.
23/06/2025

It's International Olympic Day! Here's a short piece I wrote and some photos of UTS Norths Olympians.

>> International Olympic Day

Celebrated annually on 23 June, International Olympic Day is a tribute to the founding of the modern Olympic Games in 1894. The first Games were then held in Greece in 1896.

At the same time, UTS Norths predecessor club formed in the 1890s and reformed several times under different names before becoming Northern Suburbs Amateur Athletics Club in 1927.

Norths first Olympian was 400m/800m runner Charles Stuart who represented Australia at the 1928 Games in Amsterdam.

Since then the following Norths members have competed at the Olympic Games:

* John Treloar - 1952 Helsinki
* Helen Frith - 1964 Tokyo
* John Farrington and Jenny Lamy - 1968 Mexico City
* Alison Ross-Edwards and John Farrington (withdrew) - 1972 Munich
* Jenny Laurendet - 1988 Seoul
* Tim Jackson and Kylie Hanigan - 1996 Atlanta
* Bendere Oboya and Georgia Winkcup - 2020 (in 2021) Tokyo
* Kimia Yousofi - 2024 Paris

UTS Norths has also had club members involved in the Olympic Games as coaches and particularly in the 1956 Melbourne and 2000 Sydney Games as officials and volunteers.

More details are available in our full-colour history book, 'All Points NORTH' which is available via our website - https://www.utsnorthsath.com.au/shop/8543

This is an awesome idea for medals! Let’s see more organisations using recycled materials in this way 😊
20/06/2025

This is an awesome idea for medals! Let’s see more organisations using recycled materials in this way 😊

🏅 Introducing the NEW Coles Winter Carnival Medal!

We’re excited to reveal the brand-new medal design for the 2025 Coles Winter Carnival — proudly created in partnership with .

This is the first-ever LAQ Carnival where these stunning medals will be presented, and they’re more than just a keepsake. Each one helps prevent two plastic bottles from entering our oceans 🌊 — making every medal a win for athletes and the environment.

Get ready to earn yours in Townsville this June!

Also look out for my stories and so forth on the UTS Northern Suburbs Athletics page as I have re-joined the committee a...
25/06/2024

Also look out for my stories and so forth on the UTS Northern Suburbs Athletics page as I have re-joined the committee after a big break. Makes sense to use my comms skills!

NEW COMMITTEE - After the Annual General Meeting, Jo Davis takes the helm as the second female club president of UTS Norths, the first being Toni Dickson in the 1990s. The new committee is listed below and we thank each member for their volunteer contribution to running the club.

President - Jo Davis
Vice president - Ashley McMahon
Secretary - Ryan Dowling
Treasurer - Andy West

General Committee - Maria Cimino, Alec Diamond, Ross Douglas, Mike Hurst, Vana Mikan, Janet Naylon, Cynthia Thomson, Ronan Vella

A fun evening was had with the Ron Bendall Track & Field Coach squad! Lot's of recent write ups on Ron's page.
20/06/2024

A fun evening was had with the Ron Bendall Track & Field Coach squad! Lot's of recent write ups on Ron's page.

ALL BASES COVERED

There was a good turnout by Ron Bendall squad athletes at Saturday's annual trophy presentation at the Kirribilli Club.

Thirteen athletes ranging in age from 17 to 74 years and covering all running events from 60m to the half marathon as well as hurdles, throws and jumps were there to cheer on trophy winners Matthew Hunt and Nicki Drinkwater.

📸: Ron's squad: (from left) Jenny Schell, Cynthia Thomson, Nicki Drinkwater, Janet Naylon, Gemma Bratton, Clinton McEwan (kneeling) Sarah Culhane, Bronte Pickering, Edward Parker, Antoinette Baron, Matthew Hunt, assistant coach Stuart Paterson, Tony Crimi (kneeling), Amy Thake and Ron Bendall (photo by Emily Davis)

25/03/2024

SQUAD AND AWE

At the NSW Open Championships at SOPAC, Ron Bendall squad members:
* Won three gold medals
* Won one bronze medal
* Finished fourth and seventh in finals
* Ran a World Junior Championship qualifying time
* Ran four personal best times
* And ran four season best times.

🥇🥇🥇 Gold medals
* Bronte Pickering - women's 100m
* Edward Parker - ambulant men's 400m and 200m

🥉 Bronze medal
* Edward Parker - ambulant men's 100m

Finalists
* Matthew Hunt - fourth men's 400m hurdles
* Bronte Pickering - seventh women's 200m

World Junior Championship qualifier
* Matthew Hunt - 400m hurdles

Personal Bests
* Bronte Pickering - 100m and 200m
* Matthew Hunt - 400m hurdles
* Edward Parker - 200m

Season Bests
* Gemma Bratton - 200m, 400m
* Edward Parker - 100m, 400m

📸: Bronte Pickering runs a PB in the 100m semi final (photo via Insta )

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Berowra, NSW

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