RACEWALKER, Alanna Peart and cyclist, Graeme Frislie were named FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport\u2019s Athletes of the Year last week.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s patron and former Olympic and Commonwealth Games marathon champion, Steve Moneghetti AM.<\/p>\n
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 \u201creally exciting\u201d for her.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a big shock, I wasn\u2019t expecting it because everyone there was so good,\u201d the 15-year-old said.<\/p>\n
The unique nature of Peart\u2019s challenging sport drives her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love how it\u2019s different to running. There\u2019s only a few people who can actually race walk properly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve really got to watch your style the whole time because you\u2019ll be getting tired, but the judges could pull you up at the end,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Starting at age eight, Peart now wants to go as far as she can.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy 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,\u201d Peart said.<\/p>\n
Executive Officer of the FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport, Corey Saitta said the group hopes to maximise western Victoria\u2019s contribution to national performances of world quality.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth have an unwavering commitment to becoming the best version of themselves as athletes and as young people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RACEWALKER, Alanna Peart and cyclist, Graeme Frislie were named FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport\u2019s 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\u2019s patron and former Olympic and […]<\/p>\n