By Pam Kiriakidis
WHITTLESEA Secondary College student Mason Sota tested his skills and placed fifth in javelin at the School Sport Victoria State Track and Field Secondary Championships in Melbourne last month.
Mr Sota felt proud of his achievements as he only reached state level this year, after realising in year nine that he had a talent for throwing a javelin a long way.
“I only just started recently through school in about year nine. At one athletics I just thought ‘oh I might give javelin a try’ and it turns out I was good at it. I just kept winning every event,” Mr Sota said.
“That was basically my practise, and I thought I might as well put my head to this and actually try to be good in it, and I got to state [level].”
Earlier this year Mr Sota competed at regional championships, and went through to state finals at Albert Park on October 17.
He said most of his practise was at school grounds voicing his appreciation for the school’s array of athletic equipment.
“[I practised] at school, just on the longest straight of ground that I could find,” Mr Sota said.
Mr Sota said COVID-19 impacted his training, but that he was able to throw a few times before the state championships.
“It was a bit hard because I started and then COVID happened. I hadn’t really been out to practice,” he said.
Although Mr Sota is relatively new to the sport, he said throwing a javelin had become one of his favourite pastimes.
“It’s therapeutic – you literally get to throw a pole as hard as you can, and it’s satisfying. I personally just find it amusing.
“It requires technique and I like being in technical sports where you actually have to be good at something to do it,” he said.
For now, Mr Sota said he was focused on finishing year 12, but said competing at the Olympic Games was a possible future goal.
“It would be pretty awesome to go to the Olympics for it. That’s a bit of a long shot,” he said.
“I mean, if I dedicate myself to it, it’s definitely possible.”
