Grace Kelly and Jesse Suter secured medals at SSA Track and Field National Championships

Kelly, 12, who is in her final year at St Pius Primary, secured gold in the 100 metres –  in a personal best of 12.35 –  and in the 4x100-metre relay on Sunday after claiming silver in the 200 metres on Saturday. 

She broke her own state record in the 100-metres, sped past the state 200 best time and broke a 19-year national record in the 4x100 metre. 

Suter, 12, a Warrnambool Primary student, entered the discus final as a late call up but threw that aside to claim five PB throws and a bronze with a throw of 47.53 – a five-metre improvement on his best – to go with his silver in the 4x100 relay. 

He also finished fourth in the 100-metre final, after cramping with 30 metres to run, and sixth in shot put.

Kelly identified fitness as a key to her improvement as she aims to pursue her goals in the sport.

“My starts are very quick so maybe it’s working on fitness to improve. We train on grass which helps I think,” she said. “One day I want to represent Australia. I love running fast. I love the bend. I wish the 100 metres was run on the bend.”

For Suter, fitness was also his main area of focus heading into the summer. 

“It’s just about getting fit so I can finish races fast and a bit on my technique for my throws,” he said. “The fitter I am the faster I can finish races.”

The pair is one month into their season with Warrnambool Little Athletics and is set to start in this weekend’s junior race at this Saturday’s Warrnambool Gift.