Ten local athletes are off to the Australian Athletics National Championships in Perth from April 5 to 13.
Rupert Roydhouse, David Roydhouse, Jarvis Burley, Ben Day, Summer Marange, Alice Steel, Max Clark, Xavier Dalais, Johnny McKeague and Forbes Gilmour will head west after making the team.
Coached by former Australian high jumper and Head of Athletics at Geelong Grammar Lauren Van Ingen, the 10 athletes have put in an amazing season, often juggling multiple sport and school commitments to fit everything in.
“Qualifying for the national championships is not an easy thing to achieve,” Van Ingen said.
“Their hard work, commitment and dedication at training and competitions has paid off. It’s the perfect way to end what has been a very long season, with some kids starting their school athletics season way back in August last year.”
Van Ingen said national medals are “always nice”, but success would take the form of setting a goal for the competition, executing that goal to the best of the athlete’s ability, and aiming for a personal best performance.
“I try to teach the athletes to control the controllables, which is their individual performance, and the rewards will come with that,” she said.
“Coaching this squad of incredible kids is so rewarding, and is the best way possible for me to give back to the sport which gave me so much when I was their age. Although I can now say having been both an athlete and a coach – I get way more nervous coaching than competing.”
Van Ingen said Geelong is a strong athletics town and will be well represented in Perth.
“Not just by our squad, but by so many talented athletes over every event from all different training groups,” she said.
The championships will be live streamed free on Channel 7.
