RISING discus star Taylah Sengul take out the 2012 The Mt Druitt-St Marys Standard's Junior Sport Star award

RISING discus star Taylah Sengul has taken out the 2012 The Mt Druitt-St Marys Standard's Junior Sport Star award.

RISING discus star Taylah Sengul has taken out the 2012 The Mt Druitt-St Marys Standard's Junior Sport Star award.

The Mt Druitt resident beat a field of talented youngsters to win this year's NewsLocal award, which was announced at a ceremony at Sydney Olympic Park last Wednesday.

"I was shocked because there were some other good kids," she said.

Sengul, 17, has finished school and is focusing on her sport while looking for full-time work.

Competing at an elite level, Sengul took part in Open State Championships on the weekend and will compete at the Sydney Track Classic and then Nationals in Perth. She said her long-term goal was to compete in the Olympics.

Sengul has already had a taste of representing Australia at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man. She also went to the World Juniors in Barcelona last June.

Meanwhile, cricketer Daniel Manning was named the paper's Young Achiever. "I feel pretty privileged to be seen as a young achiever," he said.

Manning played for the NSW under-19 team and hopes to trial for the team again this year.

The Glendenning resident currently plays second grade cricket for the Liverpool-Fairfield Lions.