Barlow Park upgrade the next exciting step in Cairns Athletics history

For more than four decades, Olympic coach Sharon Hannan has watched athletics grow in Cairns.

The Cairns Athletics Life Member has seen generations of young athletes take their first steps onto the track and local competitors progress to state and national competition. 

While she is best known for coaching Olympic sprinters and hurdlers, such as Sally Pearson and Liz Clay, Sharon's athletics journey began in Far North Queensland in the 1980s, when she helped establish a Little Athletics club at Edge Hill State School. 

The club soon moved to Barlow Park Stadium, at that time little more than a grass track around a football field. Since then, Sharon has witnessed the venue evolve into one of Far North Queensland's premier sporting facilities, helping attract events, support community participation and provide opportunities for athletes of all ages to develop their skills close to home. 

The transition from a grass track to today's international-standard synthetic surface reflects the growth of athletics across the region, with participation continuing to expand from junior programs through to masters competition. 

Having returned home to Cairns after retiring from full-time coaching in 2024, Sharon is excited about what comes next for the venue and the sport she has dedicated much of her life to. 

Ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032, GIICA will deliver a new grandstand, improved player and spectator amenities, improved accessibility, and will also increase permanent seating from 1,700 up to 5,000 to ensure a lasting sporting legacy for Cairns. 

While earmarked to host football preliminaries in 2032, the synthetic athletics track will remain a key feature of the Stadium, supporting Far North Queensland to attract major athletics competitions into the future. 

For the athletics community, Sharon says the benefits extend beyond infrastructure. 

Improved spectator facilities will strengthen the event-day experience, support the attraction of major competitions and help showcase Cairns to visiting athletes, officials and supporters. The upgraded stadium will further enhance the city's reputation as a destination for sport and events. 

Just as importantly, it will help inspire the next generation, with young athletes benefiting from improved facilities and the opportunity to see elite sport unfold on their doorstep. 

That connection between community participation and elite performance has long been a defining feature of athletics in Cairns. The Barlow Park Stadium upgrade will build on that legacy, creating new opportunities for generations of athletes to come.