ON FAST TRACK TO SUCCESS

JUST like the Olympic motto of “faster, higher, stronger’’, a group of Aquinas athletes is aiming to make the leap to greater potential under the watchful eye of a former international pole vaulter.

Aquinas College’s athletics excellence program is managed by teacher Emma Draisey, who is a proud former student of the college and a former athlete who won Australian, New Zealand and British national medals in the pole vault.

She has worked to develop a program that helps build the potential of select students who possess a unique set of skills.

The program aims to expose students in Years 7 to 10 to the finest technical coaching methods at an advanced level.

Participant Ella Sellars of Year 7 said it was a great window into the athletics world: “We have been lucky enough to be coached by some high standard coaches when we went to the Griffith University track for several coaching clinics.”

The program also covers diet, sports psychology, injury prevention management and body maintenance through a partnership with Fast Track Physiotherapy.

Ebony Gabriel of Year 7 hones her discus skills.

Physiotherapist Alex Beck uses a lower body testing component on Aquinas College Year 7 student Aleesha Lorenzo.

Physiotherapist James O’Connor works with Year 10 Zac Sandford. Year 10 javelin thrower Trinity Kent in action.

Year 10 Paul Jodner aims high.

Antonia Djordjevic of Year 9 hits the hurdles.