Trust The Process Is The Advice

Enjoy the sport and trust the process was the advice from Australian sprinter Ella Connolly who along with her team mates qualified Team Australia a spot in the 4 x 100m relay event for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.  The team qualified at the World Athletics Championships held in Bahamas in May 2024.

Ella along with Torrie Lewis, Bree Masters, and Ebony Lane broke a two decade Olympic hiatus for the team.

The 22 year old Queenslander who is in Fiji to participate in the Oceania Invitational and Athletics Championship 2024 said it was important that young athletes enjoy the sport.

"It isn't an easy sport to love but I took up the sport while I was in high school and really grew to love everything about the sport," she said.

"So I would advise young athlete's to not only trust the process but also trust in their coaches."

Ella said it was also important as an athlete to believe in their ability and in themselves.

"There are some great athletes from the Oceania region and I was fortunate to have trained with a few athletes from Fiji, Papua New Guinea and other countries.

"They look really well and I wish them all the best during the Oceania Championships," she said.

Ella hopes to make the final team to the Olympic Games in Paris, France and will be participating in the 100 and 200 metre events during the week long Championships being held in Suva this week.

President of Oceania Athletics Association Robin Sapong also echoed Ella's advise to young athletes.

"Athletics is the mother of all sports and I encourage parents to let their children participate at a young age in athletics," he said.

"Athletics builds certain characteristics in athletes from a young age on and off the field which can be used in team sports like rugby, basketball and so on."

Robin said athletics teaches basic skills to young athletes from a young age and helps them understand the mechanics of their body and how to best utilise it to their advantage.

He said like everywhere else in the world, getting athletes to stay in the sport is a challenge.

"This is a self driven sport and without the support of parents it is difficult to retain athletes to stay in the sport," Robin said.

"This is not only an issue in the Oceania region but throughout the world."

Robin said it was with the support and encouragement of parents and supporters that will allow the sport to grow.

Meanwhile, the Oceania Invitational and Athletics Championship which started on June 1 and will end June 8, will feature athletes hoping to gain more ranking points to represent their country at this year's Olympic Games.

Results of the competition that started on Saturday can be found at:  http://liveresults.com.au/oceania/

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Pic: Australian sprinter Ella Connolly, Fiji Discus Thrower Brieanna Rabakewa and Australia Heptathlete Tori West

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