GLASSHOUSE Districts Little Athletics rising star Ruben Coombs has become the first club member to compete in the National titles.
The 13-year-old held his nerve against strong competition at the National Little Athletics titles held in Melbourne in April, winning bronze in the discus.
Ruben also came first in his 200m hurdles heat, and fourth in the finals for the 200m hurdles.
“It was very nerve-racking, I was very nervous because it was my very first time competing at nationals and I didn’t really know what the competition was going to be like,” he said.
“But I had all my friends there, and all the other kids I’ve been competing with for a couple years, which definitely helped me get over some of the nerves.”
It has been Ruben’s dream since he was ten to be picked in the Nationals squad after showing big promise in sports carnivals at Eudlo Primary School and in high school.
But once he joined the local Little Athletics (Little A’s) club, he faced the reality of much stronger competition and knew that to succeed he needed to push even harder than he already was.
Fast forward a few years, and he is now the first Little Athletics athlete from the Glasshouse club, to be picked to compete in the national Little Athletics competition.
Although his nerves were high in Melbourne, he still delivered with the bronze and his mum, Rochelle Coombs, said she was extremely proud of his achievements.
“We are proud of Ruben anyway because he is a great kid, but what we are most proud of isn’t what place he came, but that he is achieving his dreams,” she said.
“He deserves it, because of how hard he works.”
