It’s easy to get the feeling Melvin Monleh deals only in gold.
A rising star on the Australian athletics scene, Monleh is coming off a brilliant 12 months on the track.
The 13-year-old, who arrived in Australia from Liberia eight years ago, dominated the sprint events at the Australian junior athletics championships in Perth in March.
Competing in the under-15s, he won gold medals in both the 100 and 200 metres then anchored Victoria’s 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams to victory.
Monleh’s coach, Steve Gaffney, said the performances were up there with the best of the young star’s career. “This year Melvin is much more into the Athletics Victoria and Athletics Australia junior pathways,” he said. “Before that, he was in Little Athletics competitions. These are fantastic results for him. He’s racing the best under-15 runners in the country and doing it quite easily.”
Monleh began his career at Sunbury Little Athletics Centre. It didn’t take long for word of his natural ability to spread and he was offered a scholarship to the Maribyrnong Sports Academy.
Monleh has been named as a monthly nominee for the Don Deeble Rising Star Award.
The award is run by Sunshine Western Region Sports Club and
Star Weekly.
Monleh will receive $1000 donated by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club and other prizes to assist in his future sporting goals.
The Don Deeble award recognises young athletes in the western suburbs who have achieved outstanding results at a state and/or national level.
To nominate someone for the Don Deeble Rising Star Award, email ltwomey@starweekly.com.au
