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Athletics

6 April, 2025

Asha Meek set to shine at junior championships

Undeterred by the formidable competition, Horsham’s Asha Meek is determined to face the challenge head-on.

By Ben Fraser

Asha Meek is set to make an impact on the national stage in the under-16 heptathlon at the 2025 Australian Athletics junior championships in Perth.
Asha Meek is set to make an impact on the national stage in the under-16 heptathlon at the 2025 Australian Athletics junior championships in Perth.

Meek, 14, will look to make her mark on the national stage as she competes in the under-16 heptathlon at the 2025 Australian Athletics junior championships in Perth.

The junior athletics championships bring together the best in track and field across the under-13 to under-18 age categories.

Meek is keen to take it all in her stride.

“I’m really focused on getting PBs,” she said.

“If I can do that, I know I’ll get a good score, points-wise.

“I don’t need to worry too much about what everyone else is doing if I hit my personal bests.”

Meek is no stranger to competing nationally, having represented Victoria at the Little Athletics national competition in 2024.

This year, she will represent her Ballarat-based Eureka Athletics Club.

Meek and her family flew to Perth on Wednesday to acclimatise and settle into a rhythm before the April 5 and 6 competition.

Coach Ricky Price of Rickety Athletics Training Squad will travel to Perth with Meek and former Wimmera athlete Charlie Inkster, who will be competing in the under-20 heptathlon.

With Inkster’s competition later in the schedule, he said his focus will be on Meek and her preparation.

“We want to make sure Asha is feeling good and confident,” he said.

“We’ll be testing her hip a little bit and making sure she’s ready to go on Saturday.”

Across two days, the Wimmera athlete will compete in the 90m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin and 800m.

Each result accumulates points with a better time or distance awarded more points.

Price believes a score of about 4000-4100 is more than achievable with the right mindset.

“I try to get Asha to take a deep breath and smile, just to be herself,” he said.

“If she’s relaxed and runs tall, she’ll do well.”

The coach highlighted the 90m hurdles and 800m - the first and last event of the heptathlon as key to Meek’s success.

“If Asha runs the hurdles clean, that will set her up for a great day,” he said.

“Finishing with the 800m, which is her favourite event, is good too.

"She has lost some fitness in the longer race after her hip injury, but Asha has shown determination and guts before, and hopefully, she'll do the same.

“Just by getting to the nationals, she’s shown she is one of the best in her age group.

“It's not about winning any events or coming in last. It doesn't matter. It's trying to get the most points.”

Lister House and Jenifer Meek Giftware in Nhill have helped cover the costs of travelling and competing in Perth.

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