THE Swan Hill region has produced the best Little Aths discus thrower in Australia.
Koraleigh’s Emma Berg overcame a rolled ankle to take out gold at the Australian Little Aths National Under 13s Championships in Melbourne earlier this month.
The May 3 event featured 22 of the best under 13s athletes from each state competing at Albert Park, with Berg representing the Swan Hill Little Aths Centre.
Berg won gold with a personal best throw of 43.65m despite rolling her ankle at a practice session the day before.
The throw eclipsed her previous best effort of 43.2m, achieved at regional competition in February.
Competing at national level for the second time, Berg also threw a PB in her bronze medal-winning 12.01m effort in the shot put.
The Tooleybuc Central School student will now turn her attention to competing in the New South Wales school system, with her goal being to represent the region at the national schools’ championships in December.
Berg’s mum Michelle, who is also president of Swan Hill Little Aths, said her daughter was encouraged to keep “living it day by day”.
She said the rising star would receive professional coaching down the track.
“She was the only kid ((at nationals)) that doesn’t have a proper coach,” Michelle said.
“She once went to lesson for half an hour and that’s all she has had so far.”
The tyranny of distance will present some challenges when professional coaching is sought, with the nearest instructors to the Bergs’ Koraleigh farm being based in Bendigo.
“So that probably won’t happen for another year or two probably. She’s only 13 we want her to enjoy it and keep going at it,” Michelle said.
