TEENAGE hammer-thrower Matthew Catania has only been in the sport for a little over 12 months.
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But on December 2 he will compete at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships at the Australian Institute of Sport.
He gained his place to head to Canberra after claiming a silver medal at the NSW All Schools event at Sydney Olympic Park in the under-15 hammer throw event in October.
The teenager qualified for the All Schools event after finishing in the top two in his age group.
This place also qualifies him for the 2017 Australian Athletics Championships to be held in March at Homebush.
The reason he initially picked up a hammer was for a new challenge.
“It seemed like a different thing to do and not many people do it,” he said.
He has set his sights on setting a new personal best which currently stands at 47 metres.
“I think I can do better than that,” he said.
Mother, Dorese, said she was surprised at how well her son had gone in such a short time.
We bought him a hammer while he was at CIS titles for shotput last year.
- Dorese Catania
“We bought him a hammer while he was at CIS titles for shotput last year and he loved it,” she said.
“We’re not too sure why he wanted one in the first place, but he’s been doing it for just over 12 months and he didn’t go that well in the nationals in February.
“Last year it was only first place that went through, but this year it’s the top two.”
The St Columba Anglican School student is no stranger to representative level.
He received a bronze medal at last year’s NSW All Schools at Homebush for hammer throw after two weeks of training with the hammer and he now trains in Sydney regularly.
