EMERGING Warrnambool athletes Layla Watson and Grace Kelly have some big moments ahead of them on the track.
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Layla, 13, will run at the Ballarat Gift meeting this weekend, while 12-year-old Grace is in training to compete in the Little Athletics Regional Championships and the Athletics Victoria State Championships in the coming weeks.
The pair are coming off some solid summer form.
Grace won gold in the 100 and 200 metres at the Athletics Victoria Country Championships in Bendigo on the Australia Day weekend.
Last Saturday, Layla had her first win on the gift circuit, claiming victory in the 300m race at the Parkdale Gift meeting.
Both Layla and Grace are members of the Warrnambool Little Athletics Club.
Grace’s father, Kevin Kelly, said the progress being made by both girls was exceptional.
“Every time they race they seem to be recording a personal best,” Kelly said.
“They are just going from strength to strength, they are very impressive to watch.”
Kelly said the girls were benefiting from being part of the DPS (Duynhoven Perry Sprinting) stable.
He said the knowledge they have gained from coaches Rob Duynhoven and Wayne Perry was proving invaluable.
“They are two awesome guys who know all there is to know about sprinting,” he said.
“They ask for nothing in return but for the girls to enjoy their running.
“They only have a small stable of runners in Warrnambool.
“But the senior runners always look out for each other and make sure Layla and Grace are having a great time.”