Inspired by Track stars
Runner Daniella Lamas is this week's junior sports star nominee.
: : : : Picture: Matthew Sullivan OHG14024
By Brenton Cherry
Watching athletes representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Daniella Lamas decided she wanted to do
the same.
The 13-year-old Junior Sports Star nominee has improved rapidly on the track in the past few years and is more motivated
than ever. Running the 400m, she has qualified for the past three state age championships.
Two years ago she placed 14th, the year after seventh and in March she recorded her best result, claiming the bronze medal.
The Greystanes resident’s time of 58.58 sec also qualified
her for the national all schools meet to be held in Canberra later in the year.
Among her other notable achievements are gold medals for her Westfields Sports team in the Balmoral Burn and the City to
Surf. Her father, Richard Lamas is one of the coaches at her Holroyd Little Athletics Centre.
“We took her to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and looking at her idols like Jana Pittman and John Steffensen certainly
inspired her,” he said.
“When you see kids like Dani Samuels going to the Olympics, and she is only down the road at Greystanes, it makes it more
realistic.”
Mr Lamas said his daughter had always been an active girl.
“Daniella is a very, very fit girl and I’m just saying that because I’m her father,” he said.
“She has gone swimming twice a week since she was four and has just started playing netball with the Cumberland Cougars.”
Mr Lamas said Daniella should be commended for her training ethic. “She puts everything she has into her training and has
shown how well she has done in the last few years,” he said.
With thanks
Wednesday 9th April 2008
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