Port Stephens Athletics Club is celebrating the success of eight of its young athletes who, after posting top results at recent carnivals, are now preparing for state and national championships. Emma Cotton, 15, and Lily Mullane, 12, will represent the Nelson Bay-based club first at the Little Athletics state track and field championship in Sydney next weekend before they compete at the Australian Athletics Championships in April. Emma is a NSW champion after winning the under-17 400 metre sprint at regionals, held in Glendale, then the Sydney NSW Junior Championships in February.  "It feels amazing," Emma said on her achievements. "It's not unexpected. It's what I've been working towards, but it still feels unreal that I did it." Emma will also compete in the 200m and 800m events at state. Mullane produced standout results at regionals - second in shotput and first in discuss for the under-13 age group - and juniors - second in shotput and discuss.  With those results, Mullane will represent the Port in discuss and shotput at the track and field and Australian championships. "It feels really good to make state and nationals," Mullane said. Mullane holds all Little Athletics discuss records from under-6 through to the under-13 age groups with the exception of under-12. The athletics club has also seen strong results at zone, regional and junior carnivals form Shari Hurdman, 12, Tich Chigweremba, 16, Zeke Hay, 8, Caleb Reungkitchaya, 14, Toby Olatunde, 9, and Will Hoffman, 9. Each will represent Port Stephens at the state track and field championship in Sydney on March 16-17 based on their regional results. At regionals, Tich won the under-17 400m sprint; Toby won the under-10 100m sprint; Will came second in the under-10 high jump and; Zeke came second in the under-9 200m, 400m and 800m. Caleb placed second in the under-15 3km, 800m and 1500m. He will contest the 3km and 800m at state. At juniors, Caleb came 10th in the 3km - eight seconds off the Australian Athletics Championships qualifying time. Shari won the 100m, 200m and came second in long jump for the under-12 regionals age group. At juniors, she came fourth in the under-14 200m sprint.  Port Stephens Athletics Club president Dougall Lynch praised the athletes of their achievements. "It's fantastic these kids are doing well. We're trying to spread that success right across the club," he said. "We've seen a strong improvement across the board this year.  "The seniors have been great with coaching the younger kids. We want to continue the success next season."