________________________________________________ A Journal of Westfields Sports Page 1 Our New World Champion Pathways student Dani S has won a World title in Athletics. Competing at the 2005 World Youth Championships (under 18) in Marrakech Morocco, Dani won the gold medal in discus and the bronze medal in shot put. In the history of Australian Athletics no athlete has ever won more than one individual medal at a single Olympics or World Championships. Dani is now the first. Earlier in the year Dani became the youngest ever Australian female to win the Australian Open Discus title; a history that spans three centuries. Dani was 16 years old when she won the Australian Open discus title in February this year and also took the silver medal in the shot put. A product of the Westfields Athletics Program, Dani is coached by Westfields coach Denis Knowles with additional strength and conditioning from Denis’ son and former student Hayden Knowles. Her performances in Morocco would also become official qualifying performances for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in both events. Just before leaving for Morocco, Dani set a new Australian under 18 record of 55.94 metres in Discus bettering her original record. That weekend Dani became the first Australian to officially post a qualifier for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Within hours, Jana Pittman ran her first qualifier in Europe. Interviewed on the Alan Jones show last week, Dani said "It was a fabulous experience. The difference in cultures between Morocco and Australia is incredible". When asked how it felt to be standing on the rostrum receiving the gold medal as the champion of the world, Dani replied "It was wonderful, but it was also a relief. I had worked so hard for a year for that day. I would like to have thrown a few more metres, but I am happy with my performance. Hopefully I can represent Australia next year at the Commonwealth Games in both discus and shot put. I would like to thank St Johns Pk Bowling Club and Westfields Sports for their continued support. I would also like to thank my coach Denis Knowles, his son Hayden Knowles and Craig Catterick. I really appreciate the effort they have put into me and how they believe in me". 3rd August 2005 Edition: 5/8 Calendar 1/8/05 Trial HSC Commences 4/8/05 Westpac Maths Competition 8-12/8/05 Year 10 Work Experience 18/8/05 Year 7 2nd Vaccination 24/8/05 P&C Meeting Other Westfields athletes to recently succeed on the International stage are Fabrice Lapierre who last month won the American NCAA Track & Field Championships for Long Jump, John Thornell who won the Japanese Grand Prix for Long Jump and Brett W, Candice M and Dani S who all won medals at the 2005 Youth Olympics. Also last year Naomi Bligh and John Thornell were World Junior finalists with John winning the Bronze medal. Dani will have a few weeks rest from training before she starts her preparation for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. ------------------------------------ Dan Suchy Athletics Director   || News Index | | Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Copyright © 1999-2005 Westfields Sports . All TradeMarks belong to their Owners.