Prepared to hit the mark

WHETHER it’s striking the pads, running laps, or doing cardio, Sam Kay’s boosting his fitness at each workout in the build-up to next month’s World Youth Boxing Championships in Spain.

The Bendigo teenager struck gold in the under-19, 51-kilogram division at this year’s national titles in Melbourne and has earned a place in Australia’s team to compete in Alicante from 13 to 27 November.

In the lead-up to his first shot at a world title, Kay has earned a scholarship in Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year awards.

As a scholarship recipient, the 16-year-old is in the running for the Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund to be announced next February.

For now, the focus for Kay and trainer Danniel Burton, aka Boone, is the worlds.

“There’s been lots of roadwork, hitting the pads, and cardio in recent weeks,” Kay said. “The goal is to lift the intensity each session.

For a contest lasting a maximum of nine minutes, Kay puts in hundreds of hours in training.

“I have been doing five-kilometre runs on the road at least three times a week, and there’s also trackwork of 800-metre distances at least five times,” he said.

Boxing is more than throwing a hook, landing a jab, and avoiding being hit to him.

“Boxing has helped lift my confidence and discipline. I have also been able to travel to many places in Australia to compete, or train,” Kay said.

He took up boxing in 2018 and a year later won silver at the nationals. The pandemic meant no championships in 2020 or 2021.

“Those two years were really difficult. Coach Boon played a massive part in helping me stay motivated to train. There were quite a lot of Zoom calls,” Kay said.

The Girton Grammar student will be at the Australian Institute of Sport from 5 November for a five-day training camp before making his way to Spain.

The Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund was first awarded in 1982-83 to athlete Malcolm Norwood.

The award honour board includes boxers Scott and Lynden Hosking, and Jared Kum Too.