Lisarow Public School athletes off to regionals ready to ‘Bolt’
ATHLETES from Lisarow Public School have come out faster, stronger and more determined than ever this year. As they prepare for the regionals, they have a unique competitive edge.
Central Coast
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IT’S the competitive edge no one saw coming.
Athletes from Lisarow Public School have come out faster, stronger and more determined than ever this year.
Parents from the neighbouring schools are left wondering how, why? These decicated kids are putting everything into training ... and just a stone’s throw away from the school the world’s fastest man is strapping on his boots.
The school is just metres from Pluim Park, where Usain Bolt trains each week during his trial with the Central Coast Mariners.
The students think it’s “awesome” that the world record holder is just across the road most days, and said they would welcome any extra training if he ever had time to “run in”.
“It’s pretty cool, I have seen him at training,” Year 4 student Oliver Andrews-Bohringer said.
The students are feeling the “Bolt effect” with the small school placing second at the recent Brisbane Water PSSA Zone Athletics Carnival.
Around 15 students from Lisarow will go on to represent the Central Coast at the Sydney North Regional Athletics Carnival at Sydney Olympic Park on Monday.
Teacher John Rippon said for a small school, “we are punching well above our weight”.
“Many of the schools we competed against were much bigger than us,” he said.
Oliver Andrews-Bohringer was named Zone Champion for the junior boys, while Darcy Knowles broke the discus record by more than 2m throwing 34.62m.
Meanwhile the senior girls and junior boys relay teams are also off to the regionals, placing 2nd at the zone carnival.
Ben Stewart will represent the school at the 100m, 200m and junior boys relay, and said he was about five seconds off Bolt’s 100m sprint time.
“I want to beat Usain Bolt’s record one day,” he said.
When asked what made Bolt so fast, Ben said “it’s his long, strong legs”.
Senior girls relay runner Mia Shepherd said it was “something to do with his skin, the twitch fibres”.
But they all agreed that they will be hoping to take the “Bolt effect” to Sydney Olympic Park next week.