Ones to Watch Series 2018-19
The series aims to recognise local athletes that we all need to both celebrate and keep an eye on this 2018-19 season!
These athletes were nominated by coaches and officials within the region. The athletes were then selected based on their recent achievements and also their dedication to make 2018-19 their best season yet.
We wish to congratulate:
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Kelsea Gray
Age: 15 years old
Events: Triple Jump, Long Jump and Sprints
Achievements: Overall constant performer within her events!
Why they should be the one to watch: She had big season on the track 2016/17 with huge improvements in her jump technique. She has continued to improve all year and is looking to run some big pb’s in AV shield. She is a strong young talent and has been consistent with her training, so there is definitely no limit to what she can achieve this 2018-19 season. Also we hear she is a strong AFL talent as well!!
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Grant Muir
Age: 25
Event: 800m
Achievements:
Scottish Indoor 800m champion in 2018.
He has run a 1:49 at a British Milers Club race. Very quick!
Why they are a one to watch: This is his first season in Geelong and he has been turning heads already during the first 3 rounds of AV Shield. Grant has been leading from the front! We hear he has been very driven at training and is always pushing himself to be the best he can be!
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Oliver Wiltshire
Age: 16 years old
Events: 800m, 1500m, 3000m & Steeplechase
Achievements: State schools representative for cross country and overall constant performer within his events.
Why they should be the one to watch: He had big season on the track 2016/17 with huge improvements over 800m and 1500m. However, he sadly had some injury/illness issues last season. He is now back into full training and looking to run some big pb’s in AV and schools events. He is a strong young talent and has been consistent with his training, so there is definitely no limit to what he can achieve this 2018-19 season.
Andrew Semmens
Age: 24
Events: 400m & 800m
Achievements: T20 National Silver medalist in the 800m and 4 time global games representative. He is also a state champion!
Why they are a one to watch: This season he is hoping to achieve his qualifiers for the 2019 Global Games in Brisbane. Reports say he is well on his way to achieving this easily already!!
Christian Davis
Age : 19 years old
Events: 400m & 800m
Achievements: He is a 2018 World Junior Semi Finalist in 400m, two time National Junior Champion and two time State Champion just to start! He currently is ranked number 5 in Australia for his events. He was a member of 2018 Commonwealth Games 4x400m relay squad.
Why they should be the one to watch :
He is one of Geelong Athletics superstars and he is only 19! He is considered to be a true gentleman of the sport and is an inspiration for many up coming junior athletes. It is said no matter what he puts his mind to he strives to achieve ! So watch out 400m & 800m runners... Christian is running not only to improve but win!
Jacob Sesar
Age: 19 years old
Events: 100m and 200m
Achievements: Jacob started at Corio Little Athletics then joined Corio Athletics club. He is currently the Geelong 100m record holder. He has recently won the prestigious Leo Turner Memorial Award at St Josephs College.
He is also a National Junior finalist, State medalist and his National Junior 200m rank is number 12!
Why they should be the one to watch:
Trains very hard and has great potential. The jump to open this year will test him but he loves competition and will relish in the challenge.
Patrick Poulter
Age: 13 years old
Events: 100m & 200m
Achievements:
2018 Victorian Championships
1st U14 100m & 200m
2018 Australian Championships
2nd U14 200m & 3rd U14 100m
Why they are one to watch:
Patrick enjoyed a fantastic first senior athletics season in 2017/18 coming home with medals in both sprint disciplines at all championship events. He has grown at least a foot since the end of the season and has lost none of his speed. Perhaps he might even step out to the 400m event this season?
Abbey Badrock
Age : 19 years old
Events: 400m Hurdles & 100m Hurdles
Achievements: She is a National Junior Medallist and also a State Medallists. Her National Rank in the 400m hurdles is number 19 and her Junior U20 Rank is number 6.
Why they should be the one to watch : She is known as one of Geelong Athletics sweethearts and works hard at her craft. She is a merging junior talent as she is now in the transition to becoming a senior athlete.
Well done Abbey!! We look forward to what you can achieve this season!
Jayden Barmby
Age: 23 years old
Events: 400m
Achievements: 2015 Oceania Games Silver medalist -400m performance of
48.69 seconds under his belt and state medalist.
Why they should be the one to watch: He is returning this season after being on a break for two years. Rumour has it he has come back stronger and faster than ever!
Joshua Payne
Age: 12
Events: HJ, LJ, TJ, Hurdles, Combined Event
Achievements: Last season won Silver in AV Junior U14B Combined Event, Gold in TJ U14B AV Juniors, Silver in 90mH U14B AV Juniors, ‘Best New Athlete – GA’, and the winner of the auspicious ‘Most Improved Athlete’ at the Bellarine Athletics Club end-of-year presentation awards.
Why they should be the one to watch: Still only 12 in U14 category, and passionate about being his best!
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Nick O'Brien
Age: 15 years old
Events: 400m & 800m
Achievements: He is a National Junior Gold medalist & Silver medalist and also a State Champion!
His National Junior rank for the 400m is number 11.
His National Junior rank for the 800m is number 35.
Why they should be the one to watch:
He is a natural at running and is as down to earth as they come. He recently ran a 1:56:71 for the 800m at the APS finals. Winning strongly!
He is a strong young talent and puts 110% into training, so there is definitely no limit to what he can achieve.
Georgia Tarr
Age: 14
Events: Hammer Throw & Javelin
Achievements:
2018 Victorian Championships
1st U15 Hammer Throw & Javelin
2018 Australian Championships
3rd U15 Hammer Throw & 4th U15 Javelin
Why they are one to watch:
Georgia has consistently been one of the top throwers in Australia over her first two senior athletics seasons. While being smaller in stature than many of her competitors she uses her superior speed and ever improving technical ability to always place highly at State and National level. She has done considerable work in the off season on continuing to improve on her speed, and season 2018/19 shapes as something special for this talented athlete.
Nyah Brown
Age: 14
Events: 100m, 200m & 400m
Achievements:
2018 Victorian Championships
1st U15 400m
2018 Australian Championships
6th U15 400m
Why they are one to watch:
Nyah's move to focus on the 400m event from the 100m & 200m in season 2017/18 paid dividends when she claimed the Victorian title and was extremely competitive on a National level in what is an extremely competitive event, and also broke a bunch of records on the way. With another winter focusing on the longest of the sprint distances Nyah is set to run even faster and really make the 400m distance her own in the coming season.
Olivia Hobbs
Age: 17 years old
Events: 3000m and 1500m
Achievements:
Victoria Country Championships 2018
1st 3000m and 1st 1500
Victorian Track and Field Championships 2018 2nd 3000m 2nd 1500m
Australian Track and Field Championships 2018 3rd 3000m and 4th 1500m
Why they should be the one to watch:
She is one of Australia’s young up and coming runners. She is also going to move to 5000m this coming season.
Cassidy Bradshaw
Age: 14 years old
Events: Pole Vault, Long Jump, 400/800m
Achievements:
2018 Australian Championships - U16 National Champion, U18 pole vault 3rd place, U16 Long Jump 7th place.
2018 Victorian Championships
U16 - 1st PV, 3rd LJ, 3rd 400m
Why they should be the one to watch:
She is one of Australia’s young up and coming pole vaulters, steadily improving since she started 3 years ago. Currently ranked in the top few junior pole vaulters in Australia.