SAM Hutchinson’s raw athletic talent has earned him a ticket to Canada.
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The Terang College student will fly out on a two-week Sport Travel Australia Tour next week despite having only ever competed at school level.
Sam, 16, won silver in the under 16 boys’ javelin at the School Sport Australia secondary schools track and field championships in October last year, earning an overseas invitation.
That day he battled wind and rain to throw 42 metres, well short of his personal best of 62 metres.
Sam hopes the Canadian tour, his first overseas trip, will provide an insight into how far he’d like to take his field career.
He will compete in his favoured javelin and shot put and will also test himself in the hammer throw and discus.
“I’ve never really competed, just in school ones,” Sam said.
“I have never really done training but I am registered with Eureka Ballarat.
“If I do well in Canada, I reckon I might pursue it and try and get some training.”
Sam, who will holiday in Los Angeles after his track commitments, said he was grateful for the chance to travel with a group of talented young Australian athletes.
They will compete in two events: the Jack Brown Memorial in Kelowna and a warm-up meeting in Vancouver.
“It very exciting … what an opportunity really,” he said.
“In discus and hammer throw I don’t have too much experience but they are a good opportunity (to try something new).”
Sam, who combines school with building and construction at TAFE in Warrnambool, is a ruckman for Kolora-Noorat’s under 17 football side and also dabbles in basketball.