Centenary Little Athletics Centre’s Marissa Hanlon moves up a gear to take on the gruelling 400m

Centenary Little Athletics Centre’s Marissa Hanlon, a multiple medal winner at the State All Schools meet, is a quick learner.Earlier this year Hanlon broke through for her first national medal – a silver medal winning effort in the 400m at the Australian championships in Sydney.

Centenary Little Athletics Centre’s Marissa Hanlon, a multiple medal winner at the State All Schools meet, is a quick learner.

Earlier this year Hanlon broke through for her first national medal – a silver medal winning effort in the 400m at the Australian championships in Sydney.

It was a huge moment because she only started running the 400m in the season leading up to nationals.

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She followed up that performance by winning the 400m again a few weeks ago at the state All Schools titles, where she also claimed the 200m title and was second in the 100m.

Monique and Marissa Hanlon.

Hanlon said when she first started training for the gruelling 400m event she felt ill.

“But after a while it made me realise how much hard work that it took,’’ said Hanlon, who is coached by Luke Donatini.

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Like so many children, Hanlon started in Little Athletics at under-6 level and loved making new friends,

Marissa Hanlon representing her school, Brigidine College.

Her natural talent then carried her into state teams – she was determined to fulfil her goal of representing Queensland before the age of 12 – and onto many podium finishes at state, national and regional level.

Indeed, at the recent Met West Little Athletics titles she claimed five gold medals – in 100m, 200m, 400m, long jump and triple jump.

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It was from there she qualified for the All Schools in Cairns where she was joined by older sister, Monique, as a multiple medal winner.

Monique, in the 15 years age group, won gold in the 200m, silver in the 100m and was a member of the record breaking gold medal winning 4x100m relay team.

Marissa Hanlon from Centenary competing at regionals as an under 9 athlete.

The sisters will now head to Perth in December for the Australian All Schools Championships.

Marissa, a Brigidine College student, has former world and Olympic champion Sally Pearson as her idol.

The younger Hanlon sibling said she would like to represent Australia one day.

“It will take great dedication, hard work and great commitment to achieve this goal,’’ Marissa said.