By Abby Walter

A Wimmera contingent of athletes will showcase their talents nationally next month.

Charlie Inkster will compete at the Australian Athletics Championships, from April 11 to 19 for an under-20 heptathlon.

A heptathlon involves 100-metre hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 metres, long jump, javelin throw, and 800-metre run events.

Caleb Zanker is also competing in the championships for shot put and javelin.

Asha Meek will compete at the Australia Little Athletics Championships, from April 26 to 28, in an under-14 100-metre run and 200-metre hurdles.

Both championships will be at the SA Athletics Stadium in Adelaide.

Inkster said she enjoyed everything about her event, from running to competing with and cheering on her friends.

“I am looking forward to getting to know everyone and having a lot of fun,” she said.

“I have never been to the national championships before.

“My favourite event in the heptathlon is either hurdles or the 800 metres.

“To qualify you have to either meet the points standard or medal at the Victorian championships and I came third at Victorian champs.”

Inkster said she hoped to meet the points standard for the qualifier at nationals, which is 3600.

“I achieved 3470 at Victorian championships,” she said.

“I train twice a week with my coach and then do more in my own time.”

Meek said she enjoyed everything that came with athletics.

“I was excited to qualify for nationals and get to experience it,” she said.

“To qualify you have to get first, second, third or fourth at state level and then if someone pulls out the next place gets to go.

“I finished fourth in 100 metres and finished fifth in 200-metre hurdles.”

Meek said she wanted to achieve more personal bests at the national championships.

She said she also trained with her coach two days a week and put in time to train on her own.

Both girls train under coach Ricky Price in his Rickety Athletics Training Squad.

The entire March 27, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire March 27, 2024 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!