Hulley rated as finest junior hammer thrower in Australian history

FORMER Rouse Hill Times Junior Sports Star Alex Hulley could be one of our medal winners at the 2016 IAAF World Junior Championships, following another powerful hammer throwing performance at the first qualifier.

Hammer throwing champion Alex Hulley

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FORMER Rouse Hill Times Junior Sports Star Alex Hulley could be one of our medal winners at the 2016 IAAF World Junior Championships, following another powerful hammer throwing performance at the first qualifier.

Hulley, fresh from dominating the 2016 state titles, threw 60.9 metres for a record third successive title at the Australian Junior Championships in Perth on March 12 and 13.

Though her throw in Perth was less than the massive 63m throw to win the 2016 NSW title, it was enough to gain qualification for world juniors (under-20) in Bydgoszcz, Poland from July 19-24.

Incidentally, her coach Karyne Di Marco had won the same title in 1997.

Athletics NSW even goes as afar as to call the Rouse Hill prodigy the “finest junior hammer thrower in Australian history,” a tag which Alex found humbling.

“I am surprised to hear that but am honoured they think so,” Hulley, 18, said.

“I haven’t tried for the Rio Olympics because I didn’t want to concentrate on two big events in one year plus my uni studies.

“I decided to focus on qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 instead.

“I am very excited about taking part in my first world juniors and think I am at the perfect age, being one of the oldest competitors there.’

Hulley broke her own record for the Australian under-20 event, throwing the 4km hammer a distance of 63.76m, ideally setting her up for the more challenging world junior championships.

This was the ninth time Hulley had thrown the world junior qualifying distances this year, making her the top ranking Australian in her age group.

Remarkably, the former netballer is unbeaten in her ages groups since 2011 in addition to winning the NSW Open title from 2013-16.

She is doing a four-year course in occupation therapy at Australian Catholic University.

Alex Hulley’s highlights

Holds the Australian U-16, U-18 and U-20 records

Silver medallist at 2014 Youth Olympics in China

Ninth in the 2013 IAAF World Youth Championships in Ukraine

Only beaten once in 2016 by Australian open champion Lara Neilsen at the Adelaide Track Classic

Unbeaten in the NSW open title from 2013 to 2016

Won all state age titles from 2011- 2016

Member of Australian Catholic University at North Sydney elite athletic program