At the tender age of 12, Port Stephens junior sprint sensation Shari Hurdman has been making giant strides in the world of athletics.
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The Year 7 Tomaree High School student earlier this month won gold medals in the blue ribbon events - the 100m and 200m sprints - at the Combined High School athletics carnival staged at Olympic Park in Sydney's Homebush.
Shari's time of 26.07secs in the under 12 girls 200m final was a personal best. She clocked 12.86secs in the 100m final to equal her best time.
Shari, who lives in Fingal Bay and stands at an imposing 174cm, has been a member of Port Stephens Little Athletics Club since the age of eight.
"I enjoy running and I like the thrill of competition and the challenges they bring. I train twice a week with my coach and I am hoping to improve my times in the upcoming carnivals," said Shari.
While not wanting to put any pressure on his young charge, Bob Walkley - Shari's coach for the past four years and the president of Port Stephens Little Athletics - could hardly hide his excitement at the prospect of bigger things to come.
"I have been coaching young athletes for 30 years and on statistics alone Shari is the best athlete I have ever had worked with. She has a great physique for a sprint athlete and is quite tall for her age," Walkley said.
"She is a national 200m age champion and has won a string of state titles, yet she is still only 12 years of age.
"The 200m is her favourite event and she is only a whisker away from breaking 26 seconds, which is a benchmark for young athletes. Her 100m times have gradually been improving."
Walkley went on to describe Shari as a unique talent who maintained a positive attitude to her training and someone with good prospects "provided that she continues to show the same dedication and hard work that has got her this far".
Shari's next challenge is at the all-school state carnival to be conducted at Homebush later this month. "From there they select a small squad to represent NSW at the nationals to take place in Perth in December this year."
More than 1700 secondary school athletes will converge on the home of the 2000 Sydney Olympics from September 26-29 for the 2019 NSW All Schools Track and Field Championships; the state titles for secondary school athletes.
The event incorporates athletes from all sectors of the school system, including government, catholic and independent, and has a long and rich history in NSW, being a breeding ground for many of the state's best athletes, including Matt Shirvington, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, Jana Pittman, and recent Olympians Dani Stevens, Fabrice Lapierre and Ryan Gregson.
An all-round sportswoman, Shari's other sporting interests include netball, nippers, gymnastics.