Northern Territory Athletics

The Mitchell Mile is the most recent effort to revive Northern Territory athletics. Few would know that races were held on Mitchell Street in the 19th Century. Athletics is one of the first sports practiced in the Northern Territory. Almost everyone can run! Athletics events were held throughout the Territory. Often they were held in conjunction with holidays and other events like the horseracing. New Years Athletic carnivals were common even in the most remote locations. In the late 19th Century matching racing, racing for gambling stakes, was very popular. These races were sometimes held on Mitchell Street. Handicap racing, similar to the Stawell Gift, were a popular event at sports carnivals and from time to time are still held in the Territory.   ABC, 11 July 2014, NT Athletics Matthew Stephen & Charlie King