By Samantha Schrauth
We scoured all junior results from across Australia in the latter half of 2018 and found 10 exciting juniors with huge futures. It’s always hard leaving so many talented athletes off the list, but below are 10 juniors loaded with talent, with the world at their feet.
DAMITA BETHAM
NSW All Schools Results
- 1st in 100m: 12.67
- 1st in 200m: 25.30 – PB & meet record
- 1st in 400m: 58.20 – PB & meet record
- 2nd in Long Jump: 5.02m
- 4th in Shot Put 3kg: 10.27m
Age: 12
Coach: Peter Murphy
Favourite event: 200m
Favourite training session: “25 seconds of pain.” We start at the 200m start line and run it as hard as we can for 25 seconds. My coach blows the whistle when the 25 seconds is over, and we see where we got to. The challenge is to beat that mark next time.
What has athletics taught you about yourself? Athletics has taught me how to discipline myself and what sacrifices I must make in order to do that.
Who is your sporting hero? If you could ask them one thing what would it be? My sporting heroes are Usain Bolt and Elaine Thompson. I’d ask what sacrifices they had to make to get to where they are now.
KEEGAN BELL
NSW All Schools Results
- 1st in 200m: 21.86
- 1st in 400m: 48.04
- 9th at Youth Olympics
Age: 17
Coach: Mike Hurst
When did you first get involved in athletics and what made you want to start? I started doing little athletics when I was 6 and I really just did it because my friends were doing it. I was a fast runner in primary school, so I asked my parents if I could do it.
Favourite training session: 350m ladder down – you take 50m off after each rep and keep going down.
Who is your sporting hero? If you could ask them one thing what would it be? Michael Johnson. I’d ask how he was able to be so consistent with his times for so long.
What’s been the hardest thing you’ve had to overcome?
My foot injury I had before the Youth Olympics. It was the first major injury I’ve had, and it was frustrating because I couldn’t run for two months.
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