Rouse Hill hammer thrower Hulley nails Commonwealth Games spot
ROUSE Hill ace Alex Hulley is off to her first Commonwealth Games after winning her first Australian open hammer throwing crown.
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ROUSE Hill ace Alex Hulley is off to her first Commonwealth Games after eclipsing five-time national champion Lara Nielsen by 15cm to win her first Australian hammer throwing crown.
The brilliant finish by Hulley despite immense pressure from Nielsen proved the two-time former Rouse Hill Times Junior Sport Star is ready to take on her strongest opposition at the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast from April 4-15.
The win gave the reigning Australian under-20 record holder and 2016 Female Junior Athlete of the Year automatic qualification to the Commonwealth Games competition.
Hulley, who turns 21 in July, said it was an unbelievable moment when her fifth throw of 64.84 metres sealed her first open Australian title — despite the attempt being way below her personal best of 68.66m.
“It was pretty daunting and I was really nervous before my first throw,” Hulley said.
“However, once I had a good throw of 62m in my opening round, I calmed down.
“It is very exciting for me to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games because this was what I wanted to achieve.
“I am now ranked fourth in the Commonwealth (hammer throw rankings) and if I can throw this well, I have a chance of winning a medal at the Gold Coast Games.”
“I have beaten Lara (Neilson) before but never at the nationals.
“This is a bigger achievement for me than taking part in the IAAF World under-20 Athletics Championships (where she won silver in 2016).”
Hulley is a former netball player who was urged by a coach to try this sport, and since then has been rated as Australia’s finest junior hammer thrower by Athletics Australia.
She has been coached for the past few years by Karyne Di Marco and Breanne Clement who have shaped Hulley’s career and guided her to national and international medals.
“Yes I probably never expected to do this well in hammer throwing but have worked hard over the years,” a modest Hulley said.
“There is a lot of sacrifice in training up to eight times a week.’
Hulley will ramp up her Commonwealth Games preparations with a gruelling six-week training program with her coaches at Greystanes.
In June and July, Hulley, accompanied by her coaches and dad Matthew, will move to Hungary for more training and competitions in Germany and Poland.
The hammer throwing events at the Games will be held on April 9 and 10.