Year 9 student Lachlan Page continues to go from strength to strength with his athletics career. What make Lachlan’s achievements most impressive is the fact that he has excelled in two athletics events; discus and shot put. Lachlan has represented the College, his local athletics club, the northern area, and South Australia with great success, culminating recently with some great success at a national level. As well as this, Lachlan currently holds the World Age Group record for Under 14 Discus.
Lachlan started Little Athletics when he was nine years old at Munno Para. “The very first time I ever threw a discus (500 gram) it went 14 metres. In my first season I improved by nearly 18 metres when my Dad showed me how to do a turn. I have been selected for three SAPSASA State teams. Last athletics season I competed at National All Schools in Doncaster, Melbourne, where I came third in Under 14 shot put and fifth in discus. After this in March I went to Sydney Olympic Park and competed in the Under 15s where I came first in shot put and third in discus.”
Lachlan’s most recent trip was in April for the Under 13 Little Athletics State Team. He came first in discus and first in shot put. “I compete at Santos nearly every week for Salisbury Seniors on a Friday night. Saturday mornings are Little Athletics at Salisbury East. Sunday mornings are a full on strength and conditioning session at Santos. I also train on a Tuesday and Thursday. I love competition and the feeling of walking into the circle, concentrating on what I am about to do.
“My Mum and Dad really support me with what I need to do and where I need to go (Training, comps etc.). Brisbane is at the beginning of December and I am competing against other Under 16s from around Australia. Because of the age ruling and when my birthday falls these guys could be up to two years older than me! It doesn’t worry me though. I will just do the best I can do and you never know what might happen on the day.” Whilst he’s over in Brisbane Lachlan looks forward to catching up with his friends that he hasn’t seen for a couple of months from the other states.
Lachlan recently competed at the State All Schools Competition on 22 and 23 October representing St Columba College. He competed in Under 16 shot put and discus, and also Under 18 shot put and discus. Remarkably, Lachlan came first in all four of his events. “In the Under 16s I threw 53.56m with the 1kg discus and won by 9m. I threw 14.36m with the 5kg shot put, 43.07m with the 1.5kg discus and also 16.59m with the 4kg shot put. I have recently improved my distances, throwing 59m with the 1kg discus and 17.18m with the 4kg.”
Lachlan currently holds one World Age Group Record for Under 14 Discus (1.5kg discus), one Australian record for shot put and numerous state records. “I recently broke an Under 16 shot put state record last week by half a metre. My goals are to keep working on my technique and to keep trying to be, and throw, the best I can. I also wish to qualify and compete in the 2013 World Youth Championships in Ukraine for shot put and discus. One day I would like to go to the Olympics and Commonwealth Games when I am older. If I could achieve these goals I would be very happy.”
We congratulate Lachlan on his remarkable achievements and wish him all the very best in what promises to be an outstanding senior athletics career. We are enormously proud and excited to have a World Age Group Champion in our College.
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