Noah McMenamin was jumping for joy last week when the spring-heeled 10-year-old took out the gold medal in the high jump at the national championships.
The Keilor Little Athletics star was competing at his first Pacific School Games, after coming second at the state championships earlier this year. His nerves of steel took hold on the bigger stage and he took out the top prize.
His mother, Allison, said despite her own frayed nerves, Noah was simply happy to be out there.
“I felt sick and was shaking, but Noah was just excited and kept smiling the whole time,” Ms McMenamin said.
“He was jumping beautifully and really couldn’t have done much better. His coach said he was really relaxed and I think that helped him.”
Noah went into the games with a personal best of 1.39 metres, but jumped 1.41m and 1.44m to make it to the final three jumpers.
While all three failed at their first attempt at 1.47m, Noah was the first to clear it, before the other two athletes failed on their second attempt to give Noah the gold.
“When he knew he’d done it he
just started high-fiving everyone,”
Ms McMenamin said.
“He’s got his eye set on the Keilor Little Aths under-11 record of 1.49m now, and that has stood for 15 years, so that’s his goal and then hopefully do well at the state champs again.
“We’re all very proud of him.”
