The dual state sprint champion will make her debut at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Sydney next week before returning to the same Homebush venue seven days later for her final crack at the NSW Little Athletics Championships.

“I’m very excited about this month,” Smee said.

“I have nationals next week and then state straight after.

“I will be running against girls three years older at nationals, which will be tough, but I will be one of the oldest at Little As.” 

The year 12 student at Maitland Grossmann High School will contest both the 100 and 200 metre events at both carnivals, but in the under-20 and under-17 girls’ divisions respectively.

It was the sprint double and twin gold medals that Smee claimed at last year’s NSW All Schools Championships, which included four personal best times at the same meet.

Her mark of 24.62 seconds remains her peak in the 200m but she improved over the shorter distance at the ensuing Australian All Schools Championships with a run of 11.92s.

Smee picked up silver (100m) and bronze (200m) individual medals in Adelaide as well as a team silver in the 4x100m relay. 

She is the December nominee in the junior ranks for the 2014 Maitland Sportsperson of the Year awards.

Smee will also be accepting awards for training partners, Largs twins Jack and Tom Newman, who are going away to contest the Bendigo Gift this weekend.

Overall, this year’s award finalists hail from 16 sports with Australian rules, BMX, lawn bowls, surf life saving and water polo all represented.

The Maitland Team of the Year will also be unveiled tomorrow night with cricket, golf, football, netball and rugby league all in the mix.

Prize money for winners is sponsored by PRD nationwide.

Brad Sangster The Good Guys has provided prizes for both the reader’s choice and lucky door prizes. 

Guest speakers will be Maitland Magpies signing and A-League veteran Matt Thompson as well as Maitland-raised Newcastle Knights forward Robbie Rochow.

Tickets are available at the venue, Club Maitland City, with guests asked to arrive at 6pm for a 6.30pm start.

Check out both the upcoming editions of the Maitland Mercury and our website for more coverage of the 2014 Maitland Sportsperson of the Year awards.

SENIOR

Matthew Harris (athletics)

Grant Bond and Glen Cox (speedway)

Natasha Scott (lawn bowls)

Lindsay Guy (martial arts)

Gai Taylor (BMX)

Glen Stolk (hockey)

Kelly Richards (lawn bowls)

Maddi Elliott (swimming)

Shane Tritton and Lauren Panella (harness racing)

Isaac Heeney (Australian rules)

Toby Price (endurance motorcycle)

Mollie Gray (rugby union)

JUNIOR

Keegan Pickering (motorcycle)

Patrick Magann (hockey and cricket)

Sophie Hodgson (water polo)

Isabella Ferencz (surf life saving)

Angus Ernst (athletics) 

Brodie Jones (rugby league) 

Brock Lamb (rugby league)

Matthew Rees (athletics)

Matthew Pender (swimming)

Clayton Small (golf)

Jack and Tom Newman (athletics)

Katie Smee (athletics)

SENIOR TEAM

Greta Branxton Colts (rugby league)

Hills Solicitors (netball)

Maitland Magpies

(football)

Northern Suburbs

(cricket)

JUNIOR TEAM

All Saints College,

St Joseph’s Campus, Lochinvar (rugby league)

Maitland junior pennants (golf)

Maitland Saints youth girls (Australian rules)

Maitland under 12s & under 14s (netball)