Tea Tree Gully discus star Marley Raikiwasa named in Athletics Australia’s under-20 team

She’s just 15, can throw a discus more than 50m and is the newest addition to the Australian under-20 athletics team. Meet Marley Raikiwasa.

Marley Raikiwasa is a humble teenager with a big dream — to be an Olympic gold medallist in discus.

And the 15-year-old is working her way towards that goal by stamping her mark on not only the local but also the international athletics stages.

Marley is one of four SA athletes to be named in the 2021 under-20 Australian Athletics team.

SA athlete Marley Raikiwasa. Picture: Athletics SA

It comes after the Year 10 Tyndale Christian School student competed at last month’s national championships and won gold in the under-17 discus, silver in the under-17 shot put and silver in the women’s under-20 discus with a throw of 50.11m — a world junior qualifying throw.

She also finished the 2020/21 SA Athletics season as the state record holder in discus for in the under-16, under-18 and under-20 age groups.

The Australian under-20 athletics team will represent the nation at the Oceania Athletics Invitational series on the Gold Coast next month.

It follows the announcement that Athletics Australia would not send a team to the under-20 World Athletics Championships in Kenya due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marley, who trains with Di Ferguson at Tea Tree Gully Athletics Club, was also named as one to watch during our live stream of the Copyworld Toshiba SA Track and Field Championships in February.

She is proud to have made the under-20 national team and is striving to improve.

“Seeing my own progress and seeing how I’ve come so far pushes me to do better,” Marley said.

“I want to be successful in the sport that I’m doing.

“At nationals I represented South Australia which I love doing but representing Australia will be amazing and I’m really excited.

“But I also I love helping out the kids at the club and offer advice wherever I can because I have had so much given to me so I like to hope others get the same chance I’ve got.”

Marley was also able to throw against her idol, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Dani Stevens, at last month’s nationals.

SA athlete Marley Raikiwasa in action. Picture: Supplied

She said that was an experience she will never forget.

“I was really nervous leading into the national champs because last year’s got cancelled and I didn’t want two years of training to go to waste.

“With some of my throws heading in, I thought I’d be in the mix, but the most unexpected one was the under-20s as I thought I wouldn’t medal.

“Medalling for my discus was pretty cool because I had never got a gold medal before so that was pretty cool.

“Then meeting Dani was surreal, just watching her technique I was like ‘wow’ and she was really good at keeping her cool but also having fun in competition.”

The Oceania Athletics Invitational series will be hosted on the Gold Coast from June 2-13.

“I’m looking forward to using it as a learning experience and seeing how other athletes prepare and how they handle such a big competition,” Marley said.

“I really want to go to the Olympics on day or even a Commonwealth Games for discus.”

SA athletes selected in the under-20 Australian team:

■ Adam Goddard – 3000m

■ Jett Carlin – hammer throw

■ Olivia Sandery – 10,000m race walk

■ Marley Raikiwasa – discus