State spot for Macca

By Lachlan Ellis

A Bacchus Marsh Little Athlete has received some exciting news this month, moving up from an emergency in a state representative team, to a required member.

Fourteeen-year-old Mackenzie ‘Macca’ Estlick was named as an emergency in Victoria’s Australian Combined Championships squad last December, after placing fourth in the Under 15s State Combined Events – but has been told that she will now be required as a competing athlete.

Ms Estlick said it came as a shock to hear the news at the team’s first training session on Sunday 19 March.

“It was a huge surprise turning up at the first training session in Doncaster on the weekend only to be told that I have now made the team for the Australian Championships. Since being selected as an emergency at the end of last year, I’ve been working really hard on my events and techniques in the hope that I would come off the emergency list,” she told the Moorabool news.

“I had the best results of my career so far at Regions last month, achieving huge PBs in all my selected events. I feel really excited but a little nervous at the same time as this is the first time making nationals.”

Ms Estlick says she’s eager not just to compete in the Australian Championships, but also to form connections with her teammates.

“I’m looking forward to working with my fellow athletes over the next four weeks and making some new friends. I think I’m most excited about staying with the team on the weekend of the Championships, it will be loads of fun and such an amazing experience,” she said.

The Australian Combined Championships will be held at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne from April 21 – 23.