For most athletes, it’s a feat of determination and athleticism to excel in one sport at the highest level.
The 2023 City of Logan Athlete of the Year has excelled in seven.
Heptathlete Taneille Crase, a Commonwealth Games representative and three-time consecutive Australian champion, has come a long way from her days as an eight-year-old competing at Jimboomba Little Athletics Club.
The Chambers Flat resident was recognised as Overall Winner and Athlete of the Year at the City of Logan Sports Award at the Logan Entertainment Centre last night.
The heptathlon consists of seven events: 100m hurdles, 200metre and 800m track races, high jump, shot put, long jump and javelin.
Taneille only began competing in heptathlon five years ago.
With less than a year to go until the 2024 Paris Olympics, she recently relocated to Leverkusen, outside Cologne, Germany to focus on earning her first Olympic berth.
Mayor Darren Power said that Taneille’s achievements would inspire Logan sporting talent of all ages.
“It’s a privilege to present Taneille with the City’s highest sporting honour,” Cr Power said.
“From starting out at Jimboomba Little Athletics Club to representing her country, Taneille’s success proves to aspiring athletes that even their highest goals are within reach.
“Taneille has gone from strength-to-strength over the last few years, and we cannot wait to see what she achieves in the future.”
Marsden State High School’s Mercedez Taulelei-Siala was named Young Athlete of the Year after an outstanding season in rugby league.
The winger put together a powerful display for Queensland at the inaugural Australian Secondary School Rugby League 18 years National Championships to earn a place in the Australian Under 18 Schoolgirls team.
It comes off the back off a stellar 2022 that saw Mercedez experience success in both rugby league and rugby 7s, awarded Best and Fairest for the Tweed Seagulls U19 rugby league side, and representing Marsden SHS at the Queensland Schoolgirls Rugby 7s Championships.
The evening’s celebrations also included a sporting superstar panel featuring former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn, Olympic gold medallist and world champion swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan, and Olympic BMX Freestyle champion Logan Martin.
The winners of the 2023 City of Logan Sports Awards are:
- Overall Athlete of the Year – Taneille Crase
- Athlete of the Year – Taneille Crase
- Young Athlete of the Year – Mercedez Taulelei-Siala
- Master Athlete of the Year – Marion Hermitage
- Athlete with a Disability of the Year – Isabelle Parisi
- Sports Team of the Year – Logan City Netball Association U15 Pink Challenge Team
- Sports Official of the Year – Steve Kanowski
- Sports Event of the Year – Footy 4 Fun Carnival Springwood State High School
- Sports Administrator of the Year – Shane Dunne
- Sports Coach of the Year – Tracey Tuia
- Sports Organisation of the Year – Logan Basketball Incorporated
- Judges Choice – Sarah Butwell (Sports Official)
