Athletes of the Year announced

RACEWALKER, Alanna Peart and cyclist, Graeme Frislie were named FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport’s Athletes of the Year last week.

Eighteen-year-old Frislie was unable to accept his award on the night due to competing at the UCI Junior Track World Championships in Germany, but Peart received hers from the academy’s patron and former Olympic and Commonwealth Games marathon champion, Steve Moneghetti AM.

As an Under 16 competitor, Peart is ranked first in Victoria and Australia for road racewalking, and first in the state and second in Australia for track and field racing. This award is “really exciting” for her.

“It was a big shock, I wasn’t expecting it because everyone there was so good,” the 15-year-old said.

The unique nature of Peart’s challenging sport drives her.

“I love how it’s different to running. There’s only a few people who can actually race walk properly.

“You’ve really got to watch your style the whole time because you’ll be getting tired, but the judges could pull you up at the end,” she said.

Starting at age eight, Peart now wants to go as far as she can.

“I’ve had a pretty good year. In June, we had the National Road Walking Championships and I won the under 16 age group, and the open age group the same day.

“My goal is to go to the Olympics one day, or Commonwealth Games. Last year when the games were on the Gold Coast, we went up and watched. The atmosphere was really good, loved being up there,” Peart said.

Executive Officer of the FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport, Corey Saitta said the group hopes to maximise western Victoria’s contribution to national performances of world quality.

“It is no coincidence that both Graeme and Alanna consistently produce high-level performances. They are both of outstanding character, living an elite lifestyle in the way that they prepare and train,” he said.

“Both have an unwavering commitment to becoming the best version of themselves as athletes and as young people.

“They exemplify the values of our organisation in that they are respectful, honest, hardworking and they conduct themselves with utmost integrity and humility all of the time.”

The other female nominees were racewalker Jemma Peart, triathlete Ella Walsgott, netballer Milly Sharp, rower Charlotte Ashley, swimmer Anna Leighton and tennis player Ruby Rothman.

The male group included football umpire Jackson Sleep, cyclist Jesse Norton, golfer Paddy Murphy, para-athlete Sam Rizzo, skateboarder Brad Saunders and table tennis player Rory Carroll.