THROWING is not new for Warrnambool Little Athletics Club and South West Turbines coach Mark Jansz but helping others in the club improve is.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The former state champion javelin thrower is eager to pass his knowledge onto the next generation of stars and anyone needing advice or guidance.
"If there is interest there and athletes wanting to improve specially throws for competing at regionals or state comps I'd be interested to help out if I can," he said.
"My background is in throws and I'm a level one athletics coach so I can help them to get started. My specialities are javelin, discus and shot put."
READ MORE:
The Brauer College P.E teacher recently helped Jesse Suter with his javelin ahead of the state combine championships last month and assisted two other young throwers for a brief time.
Jansz said he had enjoyed helping his first athlete.
"I was doing a bit of work with Jesse to help him with the combined events, which was good," he said.
"We found good improvement for him and especially in javelin where we helped improved his PB (personal best) by about four or five metres.
"It was good working with someone so eager to learn and who took everything on board. We changed his technique and he had some big improvements, which was rewarding."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark https://www.standard.net.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters.
- Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
- Tap here to open our Google News page.
- Join our Courts and Crime Facebook group and our dedicated Sport Facebook group.
- If you have subscribed, join our subscriber-only Facebook group.
- Subscribe.
Suter threw 33.83 metres in javelin and 42.52m in discus as he stormed to a top-10 finish at the championships.
Jansz grew up in Melbourne and started his athletics career in the under six section with Preston before spending his later years competing at Ivanhoe until he was in his early 20s.
"I was a state champion in discus and shot put but I mainly did javelin for a number of years and then discus for a few years as well," he said.
"I won a national silver medal in javelin and held the state record in the under 15s. I basically competed at all-schools, state events and nationals for most of my junior athletics career.
"I preferred javelin and I did multi events as well but throws was where I did better at state events."
The Warrnambool resident, who is also part of the Warrnambool Little Athletics Club and Athletics South West Turbines committees, said his background was a beneficial to the role.
He and wife Emily are both coaching the two clubs' athletes. Emily is helping with the distance coaching at the little athletics club.
The couple's children - Miranda, 8, Lenny, 6, and Savannah, 4, - are now starting to experience athletics like their parents did.
"They enjoy it and Miranda is competing at regional (championships) this weekend where she will do high jump and 800 metres," he said.
"Lenny is learning all the new events but loves to do long and high jump.
"Little athletics is a good, fun and competitive activity for kids. Em and I did athletics from under 6s all way through so it's good to give them that opportunity to be involved."
Jansz is also helping coach athletics at Brauer College.
READ MORE:
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.