KIAHNA Evans will finally get a chance to compete at the national school titles.
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The rising star won gold in the NSW all school’s hammer throw and shotput last week, and silver in the discus.
Kiahna, 13, won two gold medals at her first state titles last year but the nationals exclude 12-year-olds and she was unable to compete.
This year the Xavier High student won the hammer by 12 metres and delivered a personal best to win the shotput.
Kiahna will head to Adelaide in early December to compete for NSW in the nationals.
Mum Donna said Kiahna was having a well-earned rest from training this week.
“Generally she is training at the Albury Athletics track three and four nights a week,” she said.
“Because they are different throwing disciplines it means she can’t really train for all three events at the same time.
“Scott Martin has taken her under his wing and that means sessions with him, both in Melbourne and back here when he comes home, every two to three weeks.”
Donna said Martin was impressed with the already 185-centimetre tall schoolgirl’s potential.
“But he keeps reminding us she is only 13 and not to have too many expectations, as long as she is enjoying her sport,” she said.
“When she is training in Melbourne she is with Commonwealth Games shotputter Damien Birkinhead and Australian youth Olympics representative Ned Weatherly.
“It’s rich company, but at the moment our challenge is just meeting the cost of getting to the national titles.”