Aberfeldie’s Kate Abfalter has sights set on Commonwealth Games after record breaking performance at Oceania Athletic Championships
KATE Abfalter from Aberfeldie has just returned from competing overseas and is now preparing to trial for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
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WITH a grandfather still coaching athletics and an active family, Aberfeldie’s Kate Abfalter has sport in her blood.
The 17-year-old student has recently returned from representing Australia at the Oceania Athletics Championships in Fiji and is now gearing up to try out for the World Youth Games and the Commonwealth Games.
“I started competing in 2011, but I’ve been brought up in an athletic family,” Kate said. “My grandfather is an athletics coach.
“I started just in track and field, a bit of cross-country, then I saw the pole vaulters and thought it looked pretty cool.”
Kate’s main disciplines on the track are pole vault and steeple chase.
She set a new under-20 competition record for pole vault while competing in Fiji.
Kate suffered concussion in the lead-up to the championships and, with minimal training, she still managed to achieve some impressive results.
“The Oceania Championships were the first time I’ve competed overseas,” Kate said.
“It was pretty amazing. I didn’t realise until I heard people in the stands cheering for Australia just how amazing it was. It was an odd sensation.”
She said qualifying for the championships in Fiji was one of her greatest achievements.
“Being acknowledged as an athlete of an international standard was pretty special,” she said.
Kate is currently in Year 12 at St Columbus.
When she isn’t studying or training, she’s supporting the community – helping the next generation of athletes by coaching gymnastics at her local YMCA.
Kate is now focusing on training for a busy second half of the year.
Kate is a Moonee Valley Leader Local Sports Stars nominee. For more stories and to nominate, visit localsportsstars.com.au/leader
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