Albury Thunder has signed a blistering winger-fullback who once trained with Usain Bolt’s sprint team in Jamaica.
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Keanau Wighton was invited to the sprint camp from his small town in Condobolin, Central West NSW.
“It was a two-week camp with another young bloke from home,” he said.
“We were scheduled to meet Usain Bolt, but with him being so busy, we didn’t get the chance.
“We met a lot of his coaches and people in his group like Yohan Blake (two-time Olympic gold medallist) and Asafa Powell (former world record holder).”
Wighton clocked a sizzling 11.09 seconds for 100 metres in high school.
He played with his hometown in the second division Woodbridge Cup in 2016, before moving to nearby Tullibigeal Lake Cargelligo in Group 20 last season.
His was among the leading try-scorers with 18 and his goal-kicking helped him rack up 150 points.
We met a lot of ... people in his group like Yohan Blake (two-time Olympic gold medallist) and Asafa Powell.
- Keanau Wighton
He represented Riverina this year under former Thunder coach Josh Cale.
Wighton teamed up with lightning Wagga Kangaroos winger Tristan Dixon, who’s considered one of the fastest players in Group 9 history.
“I’d like to see them over 100 metres together, he might not be as elusive as Tristan, who bounces around, but Keanau’s just quick,” Cale said.
The 23-year-old, a cousin of NRL fullback Jack Wighton, is only 70 kilograms.
“Speed kills in any competition, no matter what level you are at, that’s why it’s great to have someone like Keanau with that pace,” Thunder coach Adrian Purtell said.