Two of Illawarra Blue Stars’ up and coming Junior athletes have recently been named in the TARGET TALENT PROGRAM conducted by Athletics NSW, identifying junior talent that can move forward in their chosen events. We asked these two talented young athletes what they feel about being chosen and what they aim to achieve in their events and in athletics in general. Javelin ace, Alex del Popolo and hurdler/sprinter Ashlyn Adams both missed the National titles last season due to the cancellation but are both looking forward to season 2020/2021 and to be named in this squad is an added bonus to them.
Here is what Ashlyn answered on her selection.
You have been named in the Target Talent program, what does this mean to you?
To me it means a lot! it is a privilege to be named in the squad, it’s very exciting and it now allows me to learn new things and have fun experiences
You came into Blue Stars with your sister Grace. How important was it to have your older sister with you?
It was so important, she’s my motivator, and she’s my inspiration. She’s my best friend and I love doing these sorts of things with her. When we did come into the club, I was a little bit anxious at first but knowing that my sister was by my side made me feel excited for the experiences to come.
As a hurdler sprinter who is your favourite athlete and why?
My two all-time favourite athletes have to be Liz Clay, hurdler and Dafne Schippers, sprinter. These two amazing athletes inspire me to be the best athlete that I can be, their motivation is incredible and watching them race gives me chills, that’s how good they are. How many years have you now been with Illawarra Blue Stars?
I believe it’s been around 5 to 6 years.
What do you believe is your greatest success so far?
Coming 5th at the Australian Junior championships, winning State Little Athletics or coming home with 3 gold medals from the Sports Travel Australia Canada Tour.
Who are your major coach/coaches and how many days do you train?
For sprints my coach is Danielle Szakacs, and my hurdle coaches are Andy Burton and my Dad.
Who has been your greatest influence in your career so far?
Probably my sister, Grace. We have always been competitive, and we always love racing each other. She is 2 years older than me but that doesn’t mean she can’t be my biggest influence. She never stops when she thinks she’s done enough, she goes further and further, and to me that’s very inspiring.
What are your short and long term goals in the sport of Track and Field?
Short term is to get through the next season without any injuries, and stand on the podium at the next Australian Junior Champs, and long term would be every childhood dream, to become an Olympian, and compete at the Olympics as well as the Commonwealth games and the Oceanic Games.
Do you think you will go onto 400 metres hurdles?
It is definitely not in the foreseeable future, but you never know what could happen.
How do you manage school and training?
Juggling school and training can be very hard at times, but I think that I just keep my head up and try to get my training done while also keeping my head into my school work, and everything works out ok. I have a pretty good study schedule around my training.
Alex answered the following questions on his selection
Alex, being named as a member of the Targeted Talent Program, what does this mean to you?
I see this as another opportunity to learn from the different coaches, improve my technique and my overall throwing.
You live in Sydney but have joined IBS, a Wollongong based club, why is this?
Illawarra Blue Stars was an opportunity to throw at my mum’s club and I knew it would mean a lot to my Nan and Pop as the club was very important to them too.
What does it mean to you joining a club that has a very strong history of javelin throwers including your own mum?
Javelin isn’t the most popular of events so to join a club with such a huge history of javelin throwers is great. Would have been great if my Pop was here to see me throw, he’d be pretty proud, I hope.
Who is your greatest influence towards track and field?
My Mum and my Pop. (Nan is probably my biggest fan though). Dad signed us up for Little A’s because he thought it would be a good thing for us to try. Mum and Dad were pretty happy for us to try as many sports as possible. Now I am in a senior club, IBS.
You are a talented young sportsman in other sports also. How do you manage your schooling and your sports program?
I am also a member of the GWS AFL Academy which is probably my main sport at the moment but being a winter sport it does allow me to focus a bit on my javelin in summer. I am in Year 11 at school and hoping to go into either the Paramedics or Fire Brigade in the future. Mum and Dad try to encourage me to keep up with my school work and I’m doing ok at this stage.
At the moment who is your javelin coach?
My coach is Lukas Cannan, he is a great coach and really focusses on developing my technique.
We had a “stop go” summer but what do you believe was your best and most rewarding success?
I think the highlight of my season was definitely competing at the NSW Country Titles in Dubbo in January. I threw 53.90m which was a big PB for me.
Do you like other events in track and field or do you think you will concentrate on the javelin?
I’m not really a great runner but have given discus a go. I think I’m much more suited to javelin though.
What are your short and long term goals as far as athletics is concerned?
Short Term – learn as much as I can from the Talent ID squad.
Long Term – make the Nationals in 2021 ( I was supposed to throw in my first Nationals this year but it was cancelled due to COVID). Love to represent NSW as Mum was a State rep in javelin, my sister Soph Rhythmic Gymnastics and my brother Anthony in Diving have all represented NSW in their sports. Dad has nearly played 500 games of club rugby too.
Do you know much about the great javelin throwers that have come out of IBS?
Mum and Nan have talked a lot about Louise McPaul and how proud Pop (javelin coach Tony Roberts) was when she won her Olympic Silver medal as he was her first coach. Mary Thomas is a legend in javelin throwing and how she continues to win events today. Mum (Lisa Roberts) was ok too.
IBS wishes these talented young athletes all the best in the season 2020/2021, and along with the rest of the club’s talented juniors, it sets a strong base moving into senior athletics.