Teen savours gold rush

Geelong’s Hood shines at junior titles

A Geelong teenager hopes to take her athletics as far as she can after winning multiple gold medals at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships.

Jemima Hood won gold in both the under-15 80m and 200m hurdles finals at the championships in Adelaide last week, posting times of 13.09 and 29.37 seconds respectively.

The 14-year-old had won gold in the 80m final last year, but was able to clinch the double this year.

“It’s was pretty good, pretty exciting,” Hood said.

“I knew it was going to be close, there was some pretty close times but I definitely knew I was a chance as well.

The Geelong Guild athlete said she felt confident going into the finals, but wanted to put down a better run than her heats, particularly in the 200m hurdles.

With solid preparation, Hood made sure she left her best performance to last.

“I was out wide in the 200m, lane seven, so I couldn’t really see anyone, so just focused on my own race and went as hard as I could,” she said. Hood also contested the 100m and 200m events, while she brought home a bronze medal with Victoria in the U15 women’s 4x100m relay and narrowly missed out on a medal in the 4x200m relay.

Hood, whose aim was to get personal bests in each event, said her long-term goal was to get better and keep working at her athletics, though her immediate focus now switches to her winter netball and football season with St Joseph’s.

Meantime, Geelong thrower Summer Marange (pictured) is determined to hit a new personal best next season after becoming a first-time national champ.

The Geelong Guild athlete took home gold in the under-15 hammer throw final at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships, her best throw of 45.60m a massive 6.41m further than her nearest rival.

It came after Marange won a silver medal at last year’s championships in the under-14s.

The 13-year-old put down the four best attempts of the final this year, surpassing 40m each time – with three of her throws personal bests. “It was really fun, and I was really happy to achieve that because I’d put in a lot of training working towards it,” Marange said. “I think it was the best comp I’ve done, my best scores overall.”

Marange, who thanked her coach Bob Holzer for his guidance, trains twice a week on technique with another night dedicated to strength and conditioning. “I think this year, I’ve just been improving a lot,” she said. Marange said her goal next season was to hit a 50m personal best throw, as she maintains some training in winter while turning her attentions to cheerleading, dance and soccer. Meanwhile, Caleb Kilpatrick won an individual and team gold medals, his winning run in the under-18 men’s 400m before helping Victoria to gold in the U18 men’s 4x400m relay. Jamison Cox also took home two golds, helping Victoria to gold in both the under-16 men’s 4x100m and 4x200m.