Another Grant making a mark in athletics

YOUNG Bacchus Marsh athlete Evelyn Grant has been selected as part of the Victorian team for November’s School Sport Australia Championships.

The 11-year-old Bacchus Marsh Primary School grade 5 pupil was chosen to represent her state in the discus and high jump events after outstanding performances at state trials in Doncaster in August.

The track and field championships, known as the nationals, will be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from 27 to 30 November.

Evelyn’s mother, Alli Grant, said the state trials result was her daughter’s highest achievement in her athletics career so far.

Ms Grant said young athletes trying out had to finish in the top three but also had to meet other competition criteria – and Evelyn did.

“She jumped really well and threw amazing, so she qualified for the Victorian team,” Ms Grant said.

Evelyn represented her school at the try-outs but will now don a state uniform for the championships, which will attract children from throughout the country.

Ms Grant said Evelyn was a member of Bacchus Marsh Little Athletics and her participation in that activity had had “a huge impact” on her sport.

“She’s made it to states in Little Aths before but nationals is the next level,” she said.

Ms Grant explained that the highest Little Athletics competition was at state level, whereas the School Sport Australia program was – obviously – national.

She said participation at the nationals could be expensive when travel, uniforms and accommodation were taken into account, but Evelyn had attracted sponsorship from the Community Bank Bacchus Marsh and Member for Eureka Michaela Settle.

And not surprisingly, Ms Grant is extremely proud of her youngest daughter, who is following in the footsteps of her sister Matilda, who has a long list of achievements in Little Athletics.

For example, Matilda was part of the Little Athletics Victoria Development Tour to New Zealand, which took place earlier this year.

“Evie went to state trials last year and nerves got the better of her,” Ms Grant said.

“She’d never done it before, but this year being the second year she was just so much more confident. She was just amazing.

“She trains hard; she gives it everything she’s got.”