Three Keilor Little Athletics stars have been travelling the country the past month as they take on the best in the country.
Twins Sienna and Hannah Gec, and Gabriel Owusu-Afriyie all competed at the Athletics Australia national championships in early April, before competing at the Little Athletics national championships late last month.
The twins also competed at the Stawell Gift in between, with Sienna winning gold in the Little Athletics girls 100 metre event.
Speaking between the two national championships, all three said they were excited for the opportunity..
For Hannah, it was the first time she had made nationals for little athletics and it was also her first season doing senior athletics and qualifying for that nationals.
“I didn’t expect to make it this year,” she said. “It was the last year to qualify for nationals for our age group [in little aths].
“I just nicked it too. It was first state medal as well. I got second to Sienna.”
Hannah said Perth and representing Victoria for the first time was amazing and see what that next level was like.
She competed at the heptathlon at both events and also competed in the 100 metre mixed relay alongside her sister at Adelaide, winning bronze. She finished fifth at the heptathlon at Adelaide.
Sienna finished third in the heptathlon in Perth.
She was hoping to win two medals in Adelaide and was able to come away with bronze in the heptathlon and silver alongside her sister in the mixed 4 x 100 metres under-15 relay.
Sienna said competing with her sister was an amazing feeling. Both said training with each other was nice and it really pushed them.
“It’s going to be such a great experience going back to Adelaide and competing for the last time for nationals [Little Athletics],” Sienna said. “For us both competing in the same event, the heptathlon, representing Victoria, is like an opportunity that will come around only once around.
“I’m very privileged for her to join me.”
Sienna said it was really cool seeing other states tracks at nationals and seeing the wide range of talent on show.
Gabriel came away with three silvers and one bronze at the Little Athletics championships in the under-13s, after winning two silver medals at the nationals in Perth.
He said after Perth it hasn’t surprised him that he came away with a medal.
“It’s a good experience for me, and I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.
“I’m normally like first, second or third, so it’s good to be representing Victoria at nationals.
“It [Perth] was a really good experience. In the hurdles I did really well. I came in as the third-fourth fastest time, so I was expecting a medal.”
Hurdles is Gabriel’s favourite event. He said he was expecting to win three medals at the Little Athletics championships.
All three said they would like to take their careers to the world stage.
