Southern River students took on their highest division yet at SchoolSport WA (SSWA) and Field Carnival at the WA Athletics Stadium.
It was a big step up, but the team held their own and came away with strong result, including a standout performance from Year 12 student, Samuel Hatzaw, who finished second overall.
Samuel competed across six events.
He lined up for the 100m, 200m, 800m, hurdles, relay and long jump, putting in a performance that captured the spirit of the school’s rising sports culture.
Samuel said it was an honour to pull on the Southern River colours.
“It was an honour representing SRC and I am grateful for all the opportunities I have been given,” he said.
Samuel said one of his favourite moments as seeing the support around the track.
“My proudest moment was seeing all the people cheer for our school and the community we have here.”
Although he is usually strongest in shorter sprints, he was proud to win the 800m.
“I am a short distance runner, but to get 1st in the 800m was one of my challenges during the carnival.”
Finishing second overall has given him more motivation for next year. “I am proud of myself getting 2nd overall but I know that there is always room for improvement and a challenge to get 1st next year,” he said.
His preparation focused as much on mindset as muscle.
“My preparation this year was more on the mental side, working on my calmness and discipline.”
Samuel said professional athletes have inspired him since childhood. And while he thrives in athletics, his long-term sporting dream lies elsewhere.
“My goal is to make it pro in soccer and achieve the highest level I can, making myself and the people who supported me proud.”
Southern River finished tied for fourth overall, only narrowly missing another promotion.
Health and Physical Education teacher Joshua Arlidge said Samuel’s growth and leadership made him stand out.
“His determination to perform across his wide variety of events and his positive attitude no matter what result he received stood out,” he said.
“Samuel has always been an outstanding athlete, although he has matured a lot and now looks to help develop his peers to allow them to experience success as well.”
Mr Arlidge said reaching this level of competition reflects how far the school has come.
“The promotion after last year is a true testament to the growth of our college and the change to a positive mindset in many of our students,” he said.
He also appreciated the squad’s teamwork, especially when unexpected challenges arose.
“When we had students pull out due to injury or illness, we had multiple athletes willing to fill in last minute. It showed the flexibility of our athletes and their willingness to contribute to the overall success of the college.”
Mr Arlidge believes events like this help build confidence and community.
“For some students, athletics can be one of the only areas they experience success in. Being given the opportunity to showcase their strengths in front of their peers can be a major factor in boosting their confidence.”
With younger students rising and older athletes stepping into mentorship roles, he said the future looks bright.
“We have young athletes developing and older students taking on mentorship roles. It is exciting to see,” he said.
