Rowe’s golden effort

A change in program has helped The Glennie School student Jessica Rowe to a powerful best at the QSS State Championships.

ON THE RISE: The Glennie School student Jessica Rowe proudly displays her state championship medals. Picture: Contributed

ATHLETICS: Performing at a high level is nothing new for Jessica Rowe.

The Glennie School student returned from the Queensland School Sports State Championships in Cairns with two medals from as many events.

It started with the hammer throw, where Rowe launched a powerful throw of 47.66m that saw her land almost six metres ahead of her nearest rival to claim gold.

She then backed it up in the javelin throw, with her score of 35.8m earning her a second-placed finish.

For good measure she also finished fourth in the 14 years shot put final, finishing just 12 centimetres off a bronze-medal finish, as well as fourth in the discus.

Rowe said that a pick-up in intensity prior to the trip up north paid dividends in her recent success.

“I didn’t change too much, I think I just intensified what I was doing,” Rowe said.

“I’ve currently started doing weightlifting. We have a training schedule that is less in the off-season and as we get closer to competition we intensify everything.”

Rowe took up weightlifting through the Toowoomba Weightlifting Association as a way to think outside the box to continue to improve.

She said being able to advance her skills in a different setting has been able to help her tremendously when competing.

“It sounds strange but it does have the same kind of movements as throws,” she said.

“Not only are you building more strength, but you’re improving technique in a different way that doesn’t involve going through the circle 100 times.”

Such is the versatility and ability of the rising talent, Rowe managed to secure a silver and bronze medal in her first ever competition back in July, before finishing sixth in the U15s national championships in September.

Her attention now shifts to the national championships in Sydney in February, which will mark her third appearance.

“I’m mainly focusing on Queensland athletics at the moment,” she said.

“So hopefully that will mean Sydney next year.

“I came first in the hammer throw in my first year and then second last year.

“Hopefully I’m progressing and have improved enough to come first again.”

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