By JARROD POTTER
HURDLING his way to a fourth consecutive Little Athletics Victoria gold medal, Ethan Harris has proved there’s no jump that can stand in his way.
The local athletics superstar blitzed the competition in his two favourite events at the Little Athletics Victoria State Track and Field Championships last week.
Casey Fields and the competition proved no obstacle for the Casey Little Athletics Centre hurdler, as he took home gold in the 60m and his pet event – the 80m hurdles.
Harris, 12, from Beaconsfield, stopped the clock at 12.88 seconds for the 80m hurdles and backed it up with a 9.31 second run in the 60m to clinch the gold medal brace.
“Yeah it feels really good and I’m proud of myself,” Harris said. “I just like winning medals and that, going out and having some fun and being around my mates.”
He also finished third in the 400m to cap off another extraordinary outing to the state titles.
It backs up an incredible run Harris has gone through at the state championships, where he’s consecutively won the 80m hurdles four times as well as becoming a triple-champion in the 60m.
He’s not just winning these events but also smashing the records as he’s the state record holder in his 60/80m hurdles double in the Under 10 and Under 11 categories.
Add to that a bronze medal in the school track titles – racing for Haileybury – and it’s been quite the illustrious summer for the Beaconsfield bolter.
While he also features in the field events as well, they’re mostly a welcome deviation from his usual track commitments ever since he joined the little athletics ranks six years ago.
“Do them (field events) just for the fun of it but I mainly focus on the track,” Harris said. “I’ve been into it since Under 6s – my cousins they did it for a little while then I came down and had a try and I liked it.”
He wanted to thank his parents and his coach Peter Benifer for their support of his athletic ambitions.
