Geelong Advertiser

TIANA JUMP S AT CHANCE TO BE NATION’S BEST

- RYAN REYNOLDS

NO Geelong female has jumped further in the triple jump than teen sensation Tiana Boras.

It is why the 14-year-old is one of five youngsters shortliste­d for the Geelong Advertiser’s Junior Sports Star of the Year, which will be presented at the Barwon Sports Academy awards night on Monday.

Boras smashed through the 12m barrier with a stunning Victorian country record 12.01m jump this year and topped it with a 12.16m.

But she is not just content with that personal best, and she thinks she can go better this season.

“The 12m was my goal for the start of the year, but since I’ve jumped further I think my aim is to jump 12.30m plus,” Boras said. “I think I can do that this season.

“I knew I could do it (break 12m). I was feeling quite confident, but I knew anything could happen on the day, so I was a bit unsure, nervous.

“I believed in myself and I just had to wait for the time and the weather (to do it).

“I was quite shocked to get that distance.”

The Sacred Heart College student has enjoyed a stunning 2019, establishi­ng herself as one of the best triple jumpers in the country.

She won bronze at the Australian Junior Athletics championsh­ips, silver at the Victorian Junior Athletics Championsh­ips and gold at the Victorian Little Athletics Championsh­ips.

She also won medals in the long jump at the state events.

Boras also broke a handful of triple jump records this season and is up the top of the rankings in the under-16 triple jump despite being still young enough to compete in the under-15s.

Boras said she was now working hard on the training track to go to another level on 2020.

“I’m trying to perfect my technique and also getting stronger,” she said.

“I’m working on holding my step in the triple jump. My goal for this season is to get the gold in the triple jump at the nationals in March and come in the top eight finalists in the long jump.”

 ?? PICTURE: ALISON WYND ?? ON TRACK: Triple jumper Tiana Boras leapt on to the national stage with a 12.16m jump. She is nominated for this year’s Geelong Advertiser Junior Sports Star award.
PICTURE: ALISON WYND ON TRACK: Triple jumper Tiana Boras leapt on to the national stage with a 12.16m jump. She is nominated for this year’s Geelong Advertiser Junior Sports Star award.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia