General News
24 May, 2024
National selection for Koroit athlete
CAYTLYN Sharp will proudly wear the green and gold at next month’s Oceania Athletics Championships in Fiji.
In what will be her first trip as an Athletics Australia representative, Caytlyn and her team-mates will compete in Suva from June 4-8.
And while she is “absolutely thrilled” to have earnt her spot on the team, the trip doesn’t come without a substantial price tag.
“The trip is self-funded which means the cost for myself and a support person to attend will exceed $5,000,” Caytlyn said.
“I’m hoping to raise money to help offset the cost of uniforms, travel, transfers and accommodation.
“It is an honour to be representing Australia on the international stage but without support this is a huge cost to meet on my own.”
Caytlyn is hoping for community support and has started an online fundraising page (Caytlyn’s 2024 Oceania Team fundraiser) and her Geelong-based club, Athletics Chilwell, will hold a trivia night next month to try and boost her fundraising.
“It’s certainly quite an expensive trip but one that I’m really looking forward to,” Caytlyn said.’
“It’s exciting to be chosen to represent Australia and I’m really hoping to come home with a medal.”
Classified as a T20 athlete (which broadly covers athletes with intellectual disabilities), Caytlyn will compete in the long jump event on Friday, June 7 – the second last day of competition.
She hopes to clear five metres on the day which, she feels, should put her among the medal contenders.
“My PB is 5.15m which I’ve done at training but I’m yet to do that in competition,” she said.
“That’s what I’ll be aiming for.”
In preparation for the Oceania’s, Caytlyn is currently training at least three times a week with her coaches; two sessions in Geelong and one in Werribee.
After time away from the track, Caytlyn is thrilled to be back doing what she loves most.
“I was jumping only about 4.60m last year but since I began training with Eroll, my jumps coach, I’m now back over the five metre mark which is where I need to be,” she said.
“My coaches at Chilwell Athletics are amazing and I’m very grateful for all that they have taught me. I hope I can do everyone proud in Fiji.”
