Luke Deasey and Sami Wilkie's achievements in their respective sporting endeavours in 2019 saw them crowned the Northern Inland Academy of Sport's Male and Female Athlete of the Year on Saturday night.
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Both have excelled in their chosen sport in 2019 - Deasey cycling, and Wilkie track and field, and were presented their awards by special guest, former Wallaby Nathan Charles.
Wilkie has made significant improvements in her personal best over the season, bettering her best throw in the discus from 29.25m to 38.89m and in the javelin from 24.96m to 30.26m.
Most recently Wilkie won bronze in the 15 years girls discus at the NSW All Schools Championships, having earlier medalled at both the Christian Schools Sports Association and Combined Independent Schools Championships.
She also won gold in the javelin, discus and shot put at the NSW Country Championships over the summer, and set a new record at the Regional Championships.
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Her performances haven't gone unnoticed with Wilkie selected to attend the recent national under-15 camp at the Australian Institute of Sport for discus.
Deasey is just back from New Zealand where he finished 16th (with stage placings of 12th, 22nd, 16th, 16th, 19th and 18th) in the under-19s mens division at the Yunca Junior Tour.
His list of achievements also include being selected to represent NSW at the UCI World Tour "Tour de DMZ" in August where he helped them place seventh, and winning silver in the under-19 time trial at the state championships.
He just missed the podium in both the criterium and hill climb, finishing fourth.
Lachlan Martin from the AFL program meanwhile received the NIAS Chairpersons Award. The award recognises an athlete who has displayed outstanding sportsmanship on and off the field.
Former chairperson and current board member Di Gray was also recognised for her years of service with life membership while rugby league program coach Peter Stevens was acknowledged as the Volunteer of the Year.
Held at the Armidale City Bowling Club, the second NIAS Academy Awards night for 2019 also recognised the achievements of the cycling, netball, rugby league, rugby union and tennis programs.
