Competition was fierce throughout, with all youngsters vying for a top two placing to guarantee them a spot at the 2017 State Championships.

Ben Keane was first on the track for Merriwa in the 1500m, putting up a good fight in a very strong field to place fifth.

He went on to place fifth, sixth and seventh in the 800m, high jump and 400m in which was his last ever Regionals for Little As as he reaches the end of his age group.

Darcy Taaffe lacked her trademark gritty spurt of speed in her races.

But, she still performed admirably in hurdles, making finals to place 11th overall, fifth in the 400m, sixth in 70m and 10th in 800m.

Dylan Keane had a cracker carnival, really showing great growth in maturity and sportsmanship with a determined attitude.

He just missed out on the finals in the 100m but made the reserves for the 400m and 200m deciders.

Cody Bates made it to Regionals for the very first time, displaying great determination right to the end of the gruelling 400m during the heat of the day.

Thomas Hunt also made his Regionals team debut in 200m and long jump, however was unable to attend this weekend.

The youngest competitor on the squad, Ben Patterson, gave it a red hot go in his maiden carnival, ripping into the long jump, discus and 70m with gusto placing 10th or 11th overall in his events.

But this weekend, two senior Merriwa athletes excelled. 

Jackson Keane won his first Regional medal, and the only one earned by the team – a bronze in shot put and backed that up with a fifth in javelin while Jorji Taaffe exceeded her personal bests, making the finals in hurdles and triple jump to place fifth and seventh overall and ninth in long jump.

“While the club may be the smallest in the Zone, with 39 registered athletes, to have 25per cent reach Regionals and 75 per cent qualify for the finals was a great achievement for a little organisation with a mighty heart,” Merriwa coach Tash Taaffe said.