The VAL oversees a calendar of track athletics meets across the state, including the Seymour Gift, with the calendar culminating in an incredible weekend at Stawell every year.
Collins is an experienced runner with seven marathons under his belt and made his debut in the VAL as a middle-distance runner in the most recent season.
Outside of his extensive knowledge of track athletics and running, Collins brings significant professional experience to the board, having previously held senior management positions with multinational companies. Day to day, Collins is currently the regional manager of WB Hunters.
Collins said he was looking forward to working closely with everyone involved in the VAL to build on its strong growth over recent years.
“It’s a great honour to be joining the VAL board at a very exciting time for track athletics in Australia,” he said.
“Over the past 12 months there’s been significant growth in every key metric for the VAL and there’s still plenty of room for growth.
“I’m passionate about creating strong pathways for young athletes transitioning from Little Athletics to the VAL, ensuring they remain engaged and active through all stages of their sporting journey.
“I’m eager to get to work with the VAL and watch the organisation and track athletics more broadly go from strength to strength.”
In great news for the SRC, Collins will continue as President with the Seymour Gift locked in for another edition.
“The Seymour Gift made a spectacular return last year and it was the talk of the VAL for months,” Collins said.
“We’ve built a pretty special event and we’re looking forward to an even bigger and better edition this year.”
The return of the Seymour Gift saw more than 1,000 people converge on Kings Park to enjoy an amazing day of track athletics, highlighted by wins from locally trained athletes Hayden Anderson, Cooper Lubeck and Ian Porter in chaotic scenes.
The success of the return to Kings Park was recognised at the recent VAL awards night in Melbourne, with the Seymour Gift named ‘Meeting of the Year’, a reward for plenty of hard work behind closed doors, Collins said.
“When we incorporated in March last year, we had an ambitious plan to bring the Seymour Gift back, and we’ve been able to exceed our wildest expectations,” he said.
“Our committee has been amazing, working tirelessly to involve the broader community in the event and deliver an outstanding spectacle.
“The Seymour Gift looks set to be a must-attend event on the regional sporting calendar for many years to come.
“Importantly, this wouldn’t have been possible without all our sponsors and foundation members who backed us in to deliver a great day for the community.
“I’d like to thank the VAL for the award and for the great job they’re doing in promoting track athletics across Victoria.”
The Seymour Gift is locked in for 2025, with the SRC eager not to rest on its laurels.
“While we’re delighted with this award, our focus is now on delivering another exceptional Seymour Gift for the community on December 13,” Collins said.
“Memberships will be on sale in the coming weeks, and our committee is working hard to curate another great event.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the hallowed turf of Kings Park in December.”
10°C