By JARROD POTTER
HOP, step and jumping her way on to the top of the Little Athletics Victoria podium, Tayla Hughes has earned her second state win in as many years in her beloved triple-jump.
While others lean towards the other jumping codes and running in junior athletics, Cranbourne Little Athletics Club (CLAC) rising star Hughes prefers the technical nature of triple-jump.
Gravitating towards the hop, step, jump has paid off for the 13-year-old from Frankston South, as her best mark – a high-flying 10.83m – was enough to take home the gold medal at the recently held Little Athletics Victoria State Track and Field Championships.
“I won it last year as well and wanted to still get the gold again this year,” Hughes said.
“I was happy to win it back-to-back.
“To begin with I never really had trouble learning triple-jump, lots of people find it hard, but I just liked it.”
Tayla also finished seventh in the long jump to cap off a stellar meet at Albert Park.
She switched from Frankston to Cranbourne a year ago – when track-works forced Frankston athletes to move to Springvale – but since coming across to Casey Fields she has grown fond of the team and hopes to stay even when the track-works have been completed at Frankston.
“The main reason we moved is because when the track was getting resurfaced, Frankston was going to Springvale… because it had one jumping pit, they were having less jumps,” Hughes said.
“I like doing more jumping events, so I moved to Cranbourne just before the start of the season.
“I’m pretty sure we’ll stay with Cranbourne.”
Hughes wanted to thank her grandparents, Tom and Jenny, Cranbourne Little Athletics Club and her coach Paul for their support.
