Angus Clues, 11, stood tall on the podium at the PSSA Athletics carnival last week, winning gold in discus and shot put.
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The all-rounder will now go on to represent his state at the Pacific School Games, to be held in Adelaide in December.
The Year 5 student from Lithgow Public School will be joined at the games by Cooerwull Public School students Blake Fittler and Ryan Wells.
Blake took second place in the junior boys shot put with a throw of 10.51m. Ryan peaked at the right time, jumping a personal best 140cm in the junior boys high jump to finish third.
The Pacific School Games is held every four years and is a taste of the kind of international competition elite sportspeople can expect to find at the Commonwealth Games.
Seeing Angus in his state colours proved too much for proud mum Sally-Ann.
“That was it for me, I was tearing up.”
It was not Angus Clues’ first appearance at the state carnival but it was by far his best result.
He had a gruelling schedule as he competed in five events over two days on October 19 and 20.
Dad Douglas said, having just put in a throw to take the lead in the discus competition, he had to rush over for his 200m sprint semi-final.
“So he had to change into his spikes in the middle of the competition, race and then came back to find someone else had moved into first place (in the discus),” he said.
“He took his next throw and wham, he beat it.”
Angus came away with personal bests in the discus (38.71m) to claim gold. He won the shot put with a throw of 14.71m.
He found his best ever form in his sprint events, finishing the 100m in 13.77 and the 200m in 27.77. He finished fifth in the long jump with 4.68m.
The Clues thanked Rick Berrell, his Springwood-based coach, for his assistance in preparing for the competition.
It’s been a busy year for Angus, who was part of the champion Lithgow Storm under 12s rugby league side. The centre was recently selected for in the Group 10 representative side for 2018.
Before that, the pool calls. He will be competing in the state championships on December 12 in the 50m freestyle.