JUST as the Olympics kicked off in Rio, a group of excited athletes were gearing up for their first trip away to places a little closer to home.
Swan Hill Specialist School students Darryn Stevenson, Venessa Timms and Kayla Zielke are preparing to head to Canberra for the Cross Country National Championships next week after qualifying to represent their state in regional events earlier this year.
The trio, with both Darryn and Kayla having never been on a plane before, are excited for their adventures away from Swan Hill, in what will be their first interstate sporting trips.
The youngsters have been training twice a week at school and three times a week at home in preparation for the competition.
An excited Darryn told The Guardian he was shocked to have made the Victorian team, but was still confident of taking the competition out.
“I am very excited, cross country is my favourite sport,” he said.
“I am shocked, I never thought I would get this far, but I never stopped training and I am proud of getting to Nationals.
“I can probably win. I am a little bit nervous too.”
Kayla was in the same boat as Darryn, excited about her event and wildly keen for her first flight.
“I have never been to Nationals, I didn’t expect this but I am competitive,” she said.
“I am proud of myself, I have worked hard … I am really excited to be flying with the team.
“This will be a good experience, I am confident.”
Fellow student Claire Barr will head to Darwin later in the year to swim in the Schools National Championships.
She joined her cross country friends on Friday, selling raffle tickets to raise money for the quad to travel.
One generous local bought 50 tickets from the athletes, raking in $100 for the excited youngsters.
