Four young athletes from South Thornlie are heading to Queensland this month to represent Western Australia at a national competition.
Ella Dowdell, Ellyssa Gurney, Leon Chanmul and Deklan Ellery have been selected to compete at the 2026 Coles Australia Little Athletics Championships, to be held at the State Athletics Facility QSAC in Brisbane.
The athletes will depart on April 11 and return on April 15.
Each said the selection came as an exciting moment.
“I was happy and excited that I made it but also quite nervous,” Deklan said.
Leon said he was “very surprised and excited to be a part of this opportunity”, while said she felt “good and happy”.
Ella said she felt “really excited and proud” and was even happier to learn her best friend would also be going.
The athletes will compete across a range of events, from sprints and relays to field events and race walking.
Deklan will take part in shot put, discus and the Swedish relay, while Leon will compete in the 100m, 200m and relay events.
Ellyssa is set for triple jump and the 400m, and Ella will compete in the 1500m walk.
The trip is also about new experiences beyond the competitions.
Ellyssa said she was most excited about travelling on a plane for the first time, while Leon said he was looking forward to both the competition and travelling with the team.
Ella said she was keen to meet new people and represent her state, while Deklan said he was especially looking forward to competing in shot put.
All four athletes spoke about the work they have put in to reach this level.
“I train five days a week, exercises and look after my diet,” Deklan said.
Leon said his preparation involved “a lot of training sessions”, while Ellyssa said she had been doing “lots of training” and trying to stay organised.
Ella added she had been training regularly and working on her technique.
Family and coaches were a common source of support for all four athletes, with each crediting those around them for helping them along the way.
In the future, the athletes are focused on doing their best.
Deklan said he was aiming for personal bests and hoped to finish in the top five, while Leon said he wanted to “set a new PB; finish strong and enjoy everything about this experience”.
Ellyssa said she hoped to make new friends and show she could achieve being selected for WA, while Ella said she wanted to do her best and enjoy the experience.
Their coach explained that selection for the state team usually comes down to performance, with athletes who place highly in events putting themselves in strong contention.
The achievement is something the whole club shares.
“It’s special because it belongs to the whole club and the centre,” the coach said.
“Every cheer, every volunteer and every bit of encouragement plays a part in moments like this.”
The coach said what stood out most about the group was their attitude, including persistence, a willingness to learn and strong team spirit.
The club focuses on building strong fundamentals in running, jumping and throwing, while giving athletes regular competition and training opportunities to build confidence and improve.
“It reflects a place where young athletes are supported, encouraged and given the chance to improve and succeed,” the coach said.
