JACKSON Whiley has tuned up to defend his Victorian heptathlon title this weekend with an unusual state title of his own.
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The national champion in the seven-event test switched, as he did last year, to a “fun” event — this time the under-16 200m hurdles at the state junior titles.
He claimed his national crown last year after a steeplechase tune-up.
Coach Greg Simpson said while the heptathlon was the focus, Whiley had won the state hurdles “quite easily”.
“A break from his main event keeps him fresh,” Simpson said.
Whiley, 14, was one of three Wodonga athletes to strike state gold — Kiahna Evans won the under-15 girls shotput, discus and hammer and Christian Paynter won the under-20 men’s high jump.
Simpson said it would be tough this weekend for Whiley, with a heptathlete from Queensland he beat at last year’s nationals in the field at Melbourne’s Albert Park.
