Wagga’s Godfrey Okerenyang is preparing to head to Vanuatu early next month, after earning selection in the Australian under 18 team for the Melanesian Regional Championships.
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Okerenyang, 15, will contest the 200m and the long jump in Port Vila, after strong efforts at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Sydney last month.
Stepping up to compete in the under 18s specifically to try to earn selection for the Oceania event, Okerenyang was third in the 200m (22.17 seconds) and fourth in the long jump (7.01m).
The Australian team is selected from the top two athletes in each event who nominate, and The Riverina Anglican College student was fortunate to go through.
It means the door remains ajar in his bid to make the Youth Olympics in Argentina this year – if he can win gold with a qualifying time (21.42s) or distance (7.28m).
Athletics officials consider the championships an ideal entry into international competition for rising stars.
