Big chance for Queens Park athlete

Big chance for Queens Park athlete

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St Norbert College Year 12 student and star athlete Alex De Silva. Photograph - Aaron Van Rogen.

St Norberts College has produced many star athletes over the past few years, including Year 12 student Alex De Silva.

The Queens Park local is currently ranked 27th in the world for the U18 men’s hammer throw, and second in Australia for his age group.

Last month, Alex took out two state titles in the Western Australian State Athletics Championships.

He took home gold in the U18 men’s hammer throw and shot-put events, silver in the U18 men’s discus, and bronze in the open men’s hammer throw.

During the April school holidays, Alex will be competing at the 2021 Australian Athletics Championships in Sydney.

The event will see Alex take part in the U18 men’s hammer throw and U18 men’s shot-put events, with assistance from coach Lindsey Glass.

Alex was scheduled to complete in last year’s Australian Athletics Championships, which was eventually cancelled due to the pandemic.

“Other than having the chance to compete on the national stage again, what I’m most looking forward to is seeing all of my friends, who I compete with, that live in other states,” Alex said.

“We only get to see each other once, maybe twice a year at national competitions.

“No matter how close the competition might be, we’re always encouraging each other.

“Athletics is a unique sport – there are very few sports where you’ll see such a close connection and bond between all of the competitors.”

After graduating from St Norbert College, Alex hopes to either study Exercise and Sports Science or become a high school phys-ed teacher.