By Lachlan Ellis<\/p>\n
A local athlete has qualified for a national event, thanks to a stellar performance in a state tournament\u2019s 100 metre race.<\/p>\n
Mackenzie Estlick from Bacchus Marsh Little Athletics came second in the 100-metre final at this month\u2019s Victorian All Schools Track & Field Championships, meaning she progresses to December\u2019s Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Perth.<\/p>\n
Held over the weekends of Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 October, and Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November, the competition saw Ms Estlick continually improve and beat her personal best for 100 metres, finishing in 12.73 seconds in the heat (3rd place), 12.62 seconds in the semi final (2nd place), and 12.46 seconds in the final (2nd place).<\/p>\n
She has also qualified for the 200 metres, and will be representing her school, Bacchus Marsh Grammar, at the Perth tournament, which runs from 8 \u2013 10 December.
\nMs Estlick said it was fantastic to have a chance to compete on the national stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m super excited because I\u2019ll be competing against the best of the best and possible future Olympians. I\u2019m also excited to be travelling to Perth because I\u2019ve never been there before,\u201d she told the Moorabool News.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last Nationals I went to at the beginning of the year were in Melbourne, so I didn\u2019t get to travel then.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next step following the Perth event will be the 2024 Australian Track & Field Championships in Adelaide, and one day, hopefully the World Athletics Under 20 Championships.<\/p>\n
The sky\u2019s the limit for Ms Estlick, who said her long-term dream would be competing at the Commonwealth Games and Olympics \u2013 though that would take some extra support from sponsors.<\/p>\n
Her mum Chantelle said that some coaches from Ballarat had watched her compete and \u201ccouldn\u2019t believe she\u2019s not coached\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ms Estlick will be training with them twice a week in the lead-up to the Nationals and beyond.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Lachlan Ellis A local athlete has qualified for a national event, thanks to a stellar performance in a state tournament\u2019s 100 metre race. Mackenzie Estlick from Bacchus Marsh Little Athletics came second in the 100-metre final at this month\u2019s Victorian All Schools Track & Field Championships, meaning she progresses to December\u2019s Australian All Schools […]<\/p>\n