Four young athletes followed in the footsteps of their idols recently.
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St Thomas Aquinas students Holly Rae, Millie Poulos, Claudia Clunn and Grace Frost won gold at the NSW MacKillop State Title at Sydney Olympic Park.
The road to a gold medal win was a long one for the team. The girls competed in their school athletics carnival, and qualified for the regional competition in Campbelltown.
The team won their heats in Campbelltown, and qualified for the MacKillop state trials.
The girls won gold at the trials and were selected to compete at the NSW MacKillop State Title as a part of the Wollongong representative team.
The athletes participated in three relays at the state competition.
A gold medal win looked unlikely in the beginning, as the team finished in fifth place in the first relay.
However the team picked up its performance, and ended the competition with a podium finish and a gold medal win.
Grace’s mother Kelly Frost said the girls’ hard work and regular training paid off.
We didn’t think they were in with a chance, and then they got the gold medal.
- Grace’s mother Kelly Frost
“It’s an amazing group effort and opportunity for the girls,” Frost said.
“They had the fifth fastest time in the finals. We didn’t think they were in with a chance, and then they got the gold medal.”
The girls were recognised for their gold medal win with an award at the 2017 Wollongong Diocesan Sports Council Awards presentation on November 17.
The presentation recognised the outstanding athletic achievement of students in the Wollongong Diocese throughout the year.
St Thomas Aquinas was one of two schools in the diocese to receive a gold medal at the competition.
The girls accepted their award in front of a crowd of 450 people.
