The youngsters at Brimbank Little Athletics Centre have two ideal mentors to look up to this season.
Jamieson Battistella and Billie Arch, last season’s captains, are back in action after their amazing 2014-15.
Battistella had a breakout 12 months, winning a silver medal in high jump and a gold in triple jump at the state track and field Little Athletics championships.
She followed up with a triple-jump bronze medal at the national titles.
Her talents are being celebrated Australia- wide, with the teenager invited to attend a training camp at the AIS earlier this year.
Arch represented Australia at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa in September. She showed no signs of nerves on the big stage, winning a silver medal in the long jump with a personal best of 6.04 metres.
With the new Little Athletics season kicking off earlier this month, Brimbank president Dennis Thornton says the girls are great role models at the centre.
“Billie and Jamieson are both fantastic athletes and it’s great to see them doing so well,” Thornton said.
“All the kids at the centre really look up to them and are encouraged by what they’ve been able to do.”
Also coming off outstanding seasons are Makayla and Breanna Hudson who both competed in the shot put at the state championships.
Brimbank Little Athletics Centre is now on the hunt for the next generation of star athletes, and Thornton encouraged all young sports enthusiasts to try, believing the skills of athletics are transferable to multiple other sports.
Competition is held every Saturday morning.
“We have had kids come through our centre who have gone on to play league football or to represent Australia,” he said.
“It’s certainly a breeding ground for other sports.”
For more information on the Brimbank Little Athletics Centre, visit: brimbanklac.com.au/.
