Finn Wyatt qualifies for Australian Little Athletics Championships

Finn Wyatt is making huge strides in his athletics career, ticking boxes every time he hits the track. See what drives the teenage flyer.

Rockhampton's Finn Wyatt will represent Queensland at the Australian Little Athletics Championships this weekend.

Finn Wyatt is a young man on a mission.

The 13-year-old is determined to be the best athlete he can be - and he’s pulling out all the stops in the pursuit of his sporting goals.

He will realise another of them when he represents Queensland at the Australian Little Athletics Championships in Adelaide this weekend.

The North Rockhampton Athletics Centre member qualified after his three-medal haul at the state championships in March where he won the 200m and bagged silver in both the 90m hurdles and 100m.

Wyatt will race in the under-14 100m and 200m, as well as the 4x100m relay at the nationals.

Rockhampton's Finn Wyatt will represent Queensland at the Australian Little Athletics Championships this weekend.

He will also line up in the Swedish relay, running the 200m leg with his teammates doing 100m, 300m and 400m.

The young speedster will be among more than 500 athletes in under-13, under-14 and under-15 divisions taking part in the team-based competition on Saturday and Sunday.

Wyatt is counting down to the proud moment when he dons the maroon.

“I’m feeling both excited and nervous,” he said.

“It means a lot because I’ve been working towards it for a long time and it means so much to be able to represent my state.

“I’m aiming for some PBs and to make the finals in my individual events and hopefully get a medal.”

Finn Wyatt has developed into an accomplished hurdler.

His current PBs are 12.16secs for the 100m, 24.19secs for the 200m, 15.71secs for the 100m hurdles and 29.59secs for the 200m hurdles.

Wyatt started athletics at age six, initially favouring middle-distance running.

He then turned his attention to sprinting, before finding he was also a more than capable hurdler after trying that discipline at a club day.

He has developed his speed, flexibility and rhythm to the point where the 200m hurdles rates as his pet event.

Now he has found his niche, the rising star is embracing every opportunity on the track.

Wyatt prides himself on his work ethic, motivation and hunger for success, the same traits his coach also admires.

Finn Wyatt with his coach and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Melanie Woods.

He has been mentored for more than three years by Melanie Woods, a two-time 200m national champion and 2006 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist.

She said he had come along in leaps and bounds.

“He works hard for his achievements and he is a true performer,” Woods said.

“Every time he steps out on the track for his competition, I know he will give it his all and he almost always comes back with a PB.

“He knows how to handle the pressure and uses it to perform at his best.”

Originally published as Finn Wyatt qualifies for Australian Little Athletics Championships