The selection of an additional seven track and field stars for the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, 14-26 August, has been confirmed today by the Australian Olympic Committee following a reallocation of spots from other sports.

Luke Greco (400m), Grant Gwynne (2000m steeplechase), Elliott Lang (javelin), Brandon Starc (high jump), Rick Whitehead (1000m), Ashleigh Whittaker (100m) and Raheen Williams (400m hurdles) * are all thrilled to have their places confirmed and they will now join the 10 athletes, led by Liz Parnov, selected by the AOC last month.

Williams, 17, was encouraged to start hurdling a few years ago after meeting Olympic finalist Kyle Vander-Kuyp as part of Athletics Australia’s Jump Start to London 2012 program for talented indigenous athletes. 

“I can’t remember exactly where we met but at the time I was high jumping and throwing the javelin but Kyle got me interested in hurdling,” Williams, who high jumped 1.99 metres as a 14-year-old, recalls.

“It took me a few years to get the technique of hurdling but now things are going really well.” His older brother Ray was a champion sprinter before concentrating on football.

Williams won the Australian All Schools in December and is training hard to improve on his 52.74 second time (84cm) he set in winning the under 18 National Title in March. He was a silver medallist at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) in January 2009 where he got to experience his first multi-sport event.

Steeplechaser Gwynne also has the benefit of experiencing the 2009 AYOF in Sydney and is focusing on a personal best in the warm conditions in Singapore.

“I want to get down to 5mins 50 seconds or 5.45 in Singapore which would be a 10 second PB,” the year 12 student said.

“It has been an anxious wait for selection but I’ve been training hard and will travel to the Gold Coast in two weeks for some more competition before we depart for Singapore.”

Starc will put the finishing touches on his preparation at his school regional carnival in Sydney at the end of July and will no doubt turn some heads with his current form.

“Jumping is going really well and training on the weekend was right near my PB (personal best of 2.10m),” the 1.86 metre 16-year-old said.

Starc hopes to one day emulate the performance of 1992 Olympic medallist Tim Forysth. He and his coach Alex Stewart have been communicating with Forsyth to gain as much knowledge as they can.

Starc like many of the 2010 Australian Youth Olympic Team has never been overseas before and is extremely excited to be competing against the best young athletes in the world and staying in a Village with competitors from 26 Olympic sports.

* Alphabetically listed

Andrew Reid
AOC