Young athlete shines against best in state

Toowoomba athlete beats Queensland's best at championships.

ATHLETIC STAR: Megan Seipel, 11, proudly shows off the medals she won at last weekend's 10-12 years Track and Field State Championships in Cairns. Picture: Bev Lacey

ATHLETICS: Megan Seipel is proof of how far passion can take you.

The 11-year-old Rangeville State School student does not have a coach and only competes at school.

She loves sport though and returned from the weekend's 10-12 years Track and Field State Championships with four medals.

Seipel won gold in the 100m, 200m and shot-put events and bronze in long jump.

"I love sport and I really love running,” she said.

"Sometimes I get a little bit nervous before the start but I just take a few big breaths and wait for the gun.

"Once the gun goes I just run as fast as I can.

"I look straight ahead at the finish line and try not to worry about anyone else.”

Seipel's performances are all the more remarkable considering she has only been involved in athletics for about a year.

"I just try to have fun,” she said.

"Especially when I'm doing shot-put and long jump, I just try to do my best and enjoy it.”

Watching her young daughter compete in Cairns, Kristy Seipel said it was obvious which athletes were "coached”.

"You could really tell the difference between the athletes who had coaches and the ones who didn't,” she said.

"They (the athletes with coaches) looked a lot more serious and the others obviously just wanted to have fun.

"I'm really proud of how she went - she always tries her best so it was great to see her come back with so many medals.

"We didn't even know she was going to be in the 200m until we got up there.

"Now I'm trying to raise some funds so she can go to the nationals later this year.”

Originally published as Young athlete shines against best in state