Guidance from a Commonwealth Games triple-jump bronze medallist over the past 12 months has paid off for a Taylors Hill junior track and field star.
Fourteen-year-old Ruby Pizzo took home two gold, a silver and three personal bests from the Victorian All Schools Track and Field Championship at Lakeside Stadium earlier this month (November 4-6).
Ruby, a Gilson College student, began working with 2006 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and former World Junior Championship finalist Alwyn Jones about a year ago at an Essendon athletics club, after her mum Jayne asked for elite coaching assistance.
“I was told the program wouldn’t be modified – she’d have to keep up with the older athletes,” Jayne said. “And she has.”
With a personal best of 11.49 metres, Ruby claimed gold in the under 15 triple jump at the state championships, while another PB of 13.14 seconds sealed her win in the 90metre hurdles.
She then made it three personal bests when she ran 30.42 seconds in the 200metre hurdles to win silver. Ruby began her career with Keilor Little Athletics aged five. She will now represent the state at the national titles in Canberra in December in 90metre hurdles and triple jump.
“I was really nervous,” she said. “But when I got up to the blocks I thought ‘There’s not much more I can do now’.
“Alwyn (Jones) has been great, he’s always telling me to do my best, you can’t win everything.
“I’ll be competing in the Under 16 competition so I’ll be up against athletes a year older.”
