Okerenyang, 17, underwent surgery in Melbourne just before Christmas to repair the right hamstring he tore in the final of the under 18 boys 100m at Australian All Schools earlier this month.

"I had to have surgery as I ruptured my semitendinosus," Okerenyang said.

"When they were doing the surgery they found I already had a torn tendon in there, so I've been competing with that and still got PBs (personal bests) which is good.

"They had to leave the bottom half of the tendon because it's worn out, and they had to attach it to a different tendon. But they said that all went perfectly fine. They think it should be all good."

The fastest qualifier in heats (10.64s), Okerenyang was hoping to clock a world juniors qualifier by running 10.5s in the final, until he crashed to the track mid-race in the final in Perth.

"I knew it was already tight before but I didn't think about it," he said.

"My start wasn't as good as it normally was but before this happened I was about to start going to my next gear. So I was ready but then it all happened."

Limited to light movement at the moment, Okerenyang will return to doctors in Melbourne early in the new year to kick off the rehabilitation process. He's hoping he can get back on track for the 100m and long jump at the Australian juniors in late March.

"The only comp I'll get to do is nationals at the moment and that's my last chance (to qualify for world under 20s)," he said.

"This (recovery) will take around three months so that will be all I have. But if I win nationals, I could go to Oceania or Melanesian Games which also would count (if he produces a qualifying time or distance). But I have to compete at nationals to make those."

Okerenyang said it was "mixed emotions" at the Perth carnival after winning a silver medal in the 4x100m relay - running a lightning final leg for NSW - and bronze in the long jump (7.27m) with a jump that could've been a world qualifier (7.58m) if he didn't take off from 30cm behind the board.

"That's okay. At least we know I've got the jump in me. Hopefully if I get back, I'll be able to get it," he said.

Okerenyang has been working with coach Greg Wiencke in Temora. He said after Wagga's Mick Dare has helped him fix his starts in recent years, he's now focusing on the back end of his runs and 'turnover' with Wiencke.

Godfrey is also in the preliminary relay squad for world juniors, pending his recovery and the team meeting new qualifying criteria.

Brother Gerard, 15, is still coming down from his high of claiming a bronze medal in the under 16 boys hammer throw.

Coached by Wagga's Bob Hay, Gerard said he was 'hyped' for his event and launched a huge personal best to finish third.

"It's hard to tell (when you let go) and it felt like it was only a 50-metre throw. But then when they read it out, 57.64, I was jumping around and very happy," Gerard said.

At 15, the world juniors in Kenya aren't on his radar.

"I would have to compete in the age up, with the heavier weights, so there's a lot more technical things that come into play if I was trying to make it there," he said.

But a national title, and international competition, would be nice.

"I'm hoping to make either the Melanesian champs or the Oceania champs next year, so hopefully I can get a win at nationals. I'd like to improve and add a couple more turns to my hammer."

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