Dana Gonzalez of Blue Haven will take part in the 2023 Coles Australian Little Athletics Championships to be held in Melbourne from April 21-23.
She will compete in the U14 triple jump.
The event consists of three championship events across the weekend – the Australian Teams Championships, the Australian Combined Events Championships and, for the first time, the Australian Junior Athletics Championships, where Australia’s best young athletes will compete for team and individual glory.
Based on individual performance at state level, top-performing Coles Little Athletics Australia athletes between the ages of U13 to U16 years across Australia have been invited to compete.
Dana placed third in the Little Athletics State Track and Field Championship in March last year.
Competing in U13 at the time, she beat her personal best time three times in the same event; her best jump of 10.27 earned her a bronze medal.
In January this year she received an invitation letter to compete in the Australian Junior Athletics Championships.
Coles Little Athletics Australia CEO Myles Foreman said the introduction of the Australian Junior Athletics Championships would double the number of athletes who have the opportunity to participate in the national championship.
“(This) builds upon the long history of the only state/territory team-based athletics competition of its type in Australia,” he said.
Committed to ensuring sporting events are inclusive and can be enjoyed by all, Coles Little Athletics Australia welcomes athletes, their families, volunteers, coaches and officials from all parts of the community including those with physical or cognitive disability.
The 2023 Coles Australian Little Athletics Championships includes Multi-Class events across the three age divisions.
Coles Group General Manager Corporate and Indigenous Affairs, Sally Fielke said Coles had been supporting Little Athletics for more than five years, helping thousands of Aussie kids to lead healthier, happier lives through a national partnership with Little Athletics Australia as well as banana donations and sports equipment grants for local communities.
Terry Collins