It’s early in the athletics season, but Celeste Mucci is already making her mark.
The 15-year-old has continued her dominating form in both track and field, cementing herself as one of the brightest young prospects in Australia.
Mucci’s latest achievements include picking up three gold medals at the Victorian all-schools athletics championships at Albert Park earlier this month.
A busy schedule did nothing to slow Mucci down. She won the under-16 high jump, long jump and 100-metre hurdles.
She also ran a personal best on her way to a second placed finish in the final of the 100 metres.
The Maribyrnong College student will compete in all those events at the Australian all-schools national championship in Adelaide next month.
As well as leaving Albert Park with a swag of medals to add to her amazing collection, Mucci came within centimetres of qualifying for the world junior championships.
“Competing at the all schools, I was the only one left in the high jump and I tried for the 177 centimetres, which is the qualifying mark for the world juniors,” she said.
“I knocked it down … [but] it was good to know that I was close. I wasn’t expecting that so early in the season.
“Hopefully, I can get to the world juniors this year in my hurdles or high jump, or even in my heptathlon.”
While competing in multiple events at a national event is a daunting task, Mucci is becoming an expert.
Last year, at the same event in Perth, she walked away with four gold medals and a silver. She also won two gold medals at the Australia junior championships in Sydney in March and claimed her first heptathlon national title just one month later.
Her form created a serious buzz on the athletics scene and she was selected to be part of the under-17 national development squad.
“The support from my coach and family really helps when I have a lot of races,” she said.
“I’m doing about five training sessions a week plus competition.
“I was really happy to be selected in the national development squad. I was probably one of the youngest there and it was a really good experience for me.”
Don Deeble Rising Star award
For her outstanding sporting achievements, Mucci has been named as a monthly nominee for the Don Deeble Rising Star award.
The award is run by the Sunshine Western Region Sports Club in conjunction with Star Weekly.
Mucci will receive $1000, donated by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club, and other prizes to assist in her future sporting goals.
The Don Deeble award recognises young athletes in the western suburbs who have achieved outstanding results at a state and national level.
To nominate someone for the Don Deeble Rising Star Award, email ltwomey@mmpgroup.com.au
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Nicola Hancock
