Prospective Olympian Ashley Moloney and his coach Eric Brown claim top Oceania Congress gongs

Prospective Olympian Ashley Moloney and his coach Eric Brown have claimed top gongs after being named Oceania Congress athlete and coach of the year respectfully.

Prospective Olympian Ashley Moloney and his coach Eric Brown have claimed top gongs after being named Oceania Congress athlete and coach of the year respectfully.

The teenage Moloney, the world under 20 decathlon champion who hails from Logan City, attended an a sports dinner earlier this month with his coach from QU Athletics Club, Eric Brown.

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Brown said he thought the pair had been invited out of courtesy because the congress helps Moloney with a scholarship while Brown is supportive of the organisation’s meets and coaching courses.

Eric Brown at UQ Athletics Centre

“We were surprised. Ashley was presented with a trophy for the Athlete of the year for Oceania,’’ he said.

Brown was also named coach of the year.

Moloney, an old boy of Brisbane Boys College where Brown is a coach, earlier this month competed at the state titles and won his events with ease.

Moloney will now line-up against his training partner, Rio Olympian Cedric Dubler, at the Australian athletic titles to be staged in Sydney early next month. Dubler is also a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist.

Read about Brown’s influence on Caitlin Sargent-Jones at UQ Athletics

Moloney spent his formative years at Jimboomba Little Athletics Club but earned a scholarship to attend Brisbane Boys Collegein Brisbane’s inner western suburbs. It was there he connected with Brown and moved training to QU Athletics Club.

Last year, Moloney broke the world junior decathlon record on his way to winning the title.

Moloney has positioned himself as a potential Tokyo Olympian and all eyes will be on his performances during the nationaltitles.