THREE local athletes are b preparing for the Australian Underage Athletics Championships in Adelaide next month after qualifying at the recent state championships in Melbourne.

Manaia Bremner, Yolanda O’Sullivan, and Emily Iredell have trained hard, finishing on the podium in their chosen events at the Victorian titles.

Bremner will compete in the 800m and the 1500m, where his best times for each event are 2.20 (800m) and 4.45 (1500m), which was his personal best in the longer event.

Bremner first grabbed attention as a cross country runner when he represented Victoria in school sports 18 months ago, and his pathway has evolved since, favouring the running track these days.

“I set myself the goal of qualifying for the nationals and I’m really looking forward to the championships,” Bremner said.

In that 18-month period the young athlete suffered from injuries that many others share, with growing pains in his heel hampering his preparation.

His mother, Tamai Bremner, is also his coach, and has guided her son through the various stages of his career to date.

“The injury did hamper him, but he has prepared well and now we will look toward the Stawell Gift carnival where he will compete in both events,” She said.

“I have been in serious training since early December in preparation for the Victorian championships, and now I start working harder for the nationals where I want to get a podium finish or a sub 2.15 for the 800m and sub 4.30 for the 1500m,” Manaia said.

Yolanda O’Sullivan qualified for the 1500m by finishing third at the Victorian Championships

“I hope to get on the podium and run a personal best at the titles,” O’Sullivan said.

“This is my first Athletics Victoria team (selection), although I did represent School Sports Victoria in Grade 5 for cross country, but I missed competing in the athletics, as I was sick at the time.

“I’m 12 years old and only took up serious athletics about 12 months ago, and I’m very happy with my progression and have set my goals for the championships.”

Six months ago O’Sullivan was running the 1500m at 5 minutes 20 seconds, but with her hard work she has dropped that time to 4.48.

Emily Iredell added to her sporting pedigree, with the 12-year-old qualifying for Victorian teams across athletics and basketball previously.

Iredell is competing in high jump where she finished second at the state championships, and long jump where she finished third, clearing her personal best of 1.5m after improving from a previous best of 1.41m in the high jump.

At the Victorian championships, Iredell tied with the winner, but lost the title on a countback after just dislodging the bar at 1.55m.

O’Sullivan and Iredell are coached by Phillip Molesworth, who has guided the pair through to the championships.

“The three athletes have got a future in the sport,” Molesworth said.

“With all athletes, you get the lazy ones, and you get the ones who are prepared to listen and put the hard work in, and these three work very hard and they’re reaping the rewards for that work.

The Australian championships run from April 11-19.