Athletics
26 April, 2026
Locals go against nation’s best
Asha Meek finished her track and field season competing against the best athletes in the nation at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships, held at Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre in Brisbane.
Held between April 15-20, fellow Wimmera athlete Jett Hill also competed at the championships, finishing ninth in his under-15 boys' 800m heat in 2.13.93.
Competing in the under-17 girls heptathlon, Meek finished with a combined score of 3832 points, placing 10th out of 22 competitors.
Having debuted at the championships in the under-16 heptathlon event last year, Meek enjoyed the experience of more competitors this year, and was pleased with how she performed in the track events.
“There was a lot more competition this year, which made it better,” she said.
“Last year there were 14 people in the heptathlon, and this year there were 22.
“I was happy with how I went in the track events: the 100m hurdles, the 200m and the 800m.”
The young heptathlete finished sixth overall in the 100m hurdles, eighth in the 200m, ninth in the 800m, and also finished in the top ten in the javelin (10th).
Making the performance more impressive was an injury-interrupted preparation in the months leading up to the championships.
Competing for Eureka Athletics Club, Meek qualified for nationals at the Athletics Victoria Combined Event Championships in January, but injured her hamstring one week later while representing Stawell Little Athletics Club at the State Combined Event Championships.
Asha’s father, Matt, said she was only able to train properly in the final weeks leading up to the championships.
“She did her hamstring in January, and then she did have another injury in the the lower back,” he said.
“Her health hasn't been great, so her training wasn't as strenuous as it would have been, but once she got better from that, she’d been training every day the last few weeks.”
The appearance at Brisbane marks the third time Meek has participated at the national level, after representing Victoria at the 2024 Australian Little Athletics Championships.
Matt thanked Rick Price, Asha’s coach, for his ongoing training of the young athlete and for guiding Asha during the competition in Brisbane.
The heptathlete aims to exceed the 4000-point mark next season and may have done so this year, if not for injuries.
“She scored 3615 at the Victorian qualifying event, and then scored 3832 here in Brisbane, so that’s great”, father Matt said.
“Asha wants to be up at the 4000 mark, and it’s quite achievable.
“If she did personal bests in all her events, she would be well over 4000.”
As well as thanking coach Rick, Asha and her parents wanted to thank her sponsors for supporting her and helping cover the numerous costs involved in athletics: Horsham Sports & Community Club, Jennifer Meek Giftware, Comfort Inn May Park, Lister House Clinic, Priceline Pharmacy Horsham, Taylor’s Lake Football & Netball Club, Rose Fraser, and Leanne Schilling.