How did your athletics career start?

I first started athletics in 2009 at Albion Park Little Athletics Club as a Tiny Tot at the age of three, and have competed for Wollongong City Little Athletics Club for the past two seasons. I joined Athletics Wollongong as a dual athlete for senior competitions in the U12's age group in 2017.

What are your best performances?

My best ever performances were the claiming of Australian titles and Australian records in multiple events over the past few years. In the 2019 Australian Junior Championships at Homebush I became a three-times Australian champion for the long jump, high jump and hurdles events claiming new Australian meet records for the long jump and high jump. A goal for myself in that year was to crack the 12 seconds mark in the 80-metre hurdles, which I achieved at the NSW All Schools Championships in September 2019 where I ran an 11.67 seconds, breaking the previous meet record of 12.15 seconds.

As a Year 7 student at Corpus Christi Catholic College and representing the Wollongong Diocese for multiple athletics events at NSWCCC and NSW All Schools Championships I was also awarded the most outstanding secondary sportsperson of the year for the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong by former Wollongong Diocese student and now St George Illawarra Dragons NRL player Tristan Sailor.

What were your highlights and setbacks for last year?

My first ever NSW High School Champs in September 2019 saw me take out Gold and break three State meet records within 24 hours for 80m hurdles (11.67secs PB), long jump (5.63m) and high jump (1.74m PB) and claiming my place on the NSW team to compete in Perth in the Australian All Schools Championships.

Four weeks after the State Champs I began having some high hamstring problems which did not allow for the best of preparations. After recovery I had the green light to compete. It was a long flight to Western Australia and with little rest I went straight into competing the next day. The hamstring issues resurfaced with a vengeance causing a great deal of frustration and anguish. I had to be taken off the track in a wheelchair at the end of my last event. A resulting MRI scan showed that I had been competing with an Ischial tuberosity fracture. I am so proud of the fact that even with this major injury I had the determination and will to give it all I had, and won gold in the high jump, silver in the hurdles and gold in the 4x100m relay.

The orthopaedic surgeon at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney set out a recovery program which would take 12 weeks to complete. This would involve input from Mark Mitchell from Advanz Health in Maroubra and my Sydney-based sprint coach Roger Fabri. Between them they would be able to determine when I could return to he track.

Four weeks before the Australian Championships and at the 12-week post-injury mark I had a follow-up MRI which showed that my injury had remarkably healed and I was given the all clear to compete and return back to hurdles and jumps training. Training proved that I in fact hadn't lost much of my technique and strength and I was jumping and hurdling personal bests, putting me in a great position of confidence for the upcoming Australian Championships. But, due to the COVID-19 crisis the Australian Championships were unfortunately cancelled for 2020, one week out from start date. I was glad that I had this as a focus to look forward to, but can understand the cancellation decision and cant wait until my sport returns once again.

Who are your coaches and how often do you train?

I train five days a week; this includes sprinting, plyometrics and mechanical correction with Roger Fabri who is based in Sydney and I see 2-3 times a week. My hurdles, high jump, strength and conditioning coach is Peter Lawler who I train with at Beaton Park, Wollongong, twice a week. My mum coaches me for long jump.

What are your athletics and career ambitions?

My athletics ambition is to one day represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games and Olympics and I hope this will lead to a career in sports and management. Although I am only still quite young I prefer to put my focus on the things I am able to achieve now which is representing NSW and competing in the Australian Championships.

Do you have any athlete or person who inspires you?

I look up to Turia Pitt for her strength and determination. Turia is the ultra marathon runner from Ulladulla who was severely burnt in a grass fire in WA in 2011. Her two-year recovery from injury despite all odds was inspirational.

What do you like about athletics and your events in particular?

I absolutely love athletics and the atmosphere surrounding the sport. I have never thought of stopping. From a young age I have had many mentors and coaches who have supported and believed in me and have guided me to become the athlete I am today. The sport is made up of the most supportive teammates and competitors, no matter what. You always have a smile on your face when competing and training. I enjoy all events, but my favourites are, all styles of jumps including; high jump, long jump and the hurdle events.

Congratulations go to Beau Wester and mum Mary Ann McPherson. Who were presented the most improved male and female club athlete of the year award for their substantial improvement in form over the previous season.

Congratulations also to James Turner, Athletics Wollongong, May 24, 2020 who took out out the 2019-20 Athletics NSW Senior Para Athlete of the Year Award. James, last season, was absolutely outstanding winning two gold from two races, both in world record time at the 2019 Para-Athletics World Championships in Dubai in the 100m and 400m. These are events James is concentrating on for the Paralympics next year in Tokyo.