By David Nagel
Kelsey Loudon has been flying through the sky with the same velocity that she propels a discuss, javelin and netball in recent times.
The 12-year-old Devon Meadows Primary School student has jetted off to Brisbane and Perth over the last three weeks to take on the best of the very best at National Championships across two sports.
A talented goal-shooter, Kelsey first represented Victoria Under-12 Navy at the Indoor Netball Australia Junior Nationals in Brisbane, from 25 November to 2 December, before returning home to Devon Meadows.
But it was only a short break, with the talented javelin thrower flying out to Perth last week to compete in the Australian All-School Athletics Championships.
Kelsey had already proved herself a triple-threat earlier this year, winning a silver medal in discuss at the School Sports Victoria (SSV) Championships in early November.
Not bad for an athlete who does the majority of her training preparation at home.
Kelsey’s mum Kelly was a highly-talented athlete herself, transitioning from Little Athletics to Seniors and playing netball at State League level…the highest standard available during her journey.
Kelly chose netball over athletics, and despite two knee reconstructions has been heavily involved in sport all her life.
Kelsey’s dad Bill is a well-respected figure in cricket and football across the region and umpired football at a semi-elite level.
With mum and dad heavily involved in sport; and 10-acres of family property to train on…Kelsey’s early sporting pathway was determined.
“We have a grass track which gets mowed every couple of days, and 10-acres at home, which gives us plenty of room to do training,” Kelsey explains.
“I’ve been doing athletics since under 6’s, so heading to eight years now, and about the same for netball.
“I used to do race walking as well, which I was pretty good at, but I just do throwing now and play netball.
“It’s been a big year, I came second for my school in discuss, then just got back from the Indoor Junior Nationals, and then flying off to Perth to compete in the Australian All-Schools for Javelin.
“Mum puts in a lot of effort to take me places and to train me, and dad pushes me, in a good way, to do my best.”
Kelsey’s last two months of her primary school journey have been positive ones.
In early November she threw the 750-gram discuss 28.33 metres, with the second of her four throws, to win silver in the SSV Girls 12-13 event.
Mum Kelly then took a punt with the javelin, entering Kelsey for the Victoria All-Schools at the Lakeside Athletics Track in Albert Park.
“All-Schools starts at under 14s, predominantly for High School students, but we entered her with no expectations, just to give experience for next year,” Kelly said.
“But Kelsey exceeded expectations and got bronze in the 14s…against girls an age-group above.
“She did amazing, and that qualified her for the Australian All-Schools in Perth.”
Kelsey finished third of 18 starters at the Vic All-Schools at Lakeside, throwing 32.55 metres, and threw 31.16 metres on the weekend to finish eighth at the Australian All-Schools.
Of the 13 finalists in Perth, she was the youngest competitor and only girl born in 2011.
Kelsey is a member of Cranbourne Little Athletics and competes at senior level for Box Hill.
Then there’s Kelsey’s netball!
She plays for Tooradin-Dalmore in the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition and this year won the ‘Hot Shot Award’, scoring 319 goals – with a best of 38 – to be the highest goal-scorer in the league for 13-unders.
Kelsey also plays for South East Melbourne Netball Club and is an Under-13 representative player for the Casey Netball Association.
“The trip to Brisbane for the Indoor Nationals was probably the thing I loved the most about this year,” Kelsey said.
“It was great meeting new people and just having fun, then playing with them in a team against other states and against some really good players was a great experience.”
Kelsey admires all players in Suncorp Super Netball, but admits to goaler Kiera Austin being one of her favourites, while dual World Champion Kelsey-Lee Barber, and World Champion bronze medallist Mackenzie Little are her heroes when it comes to javelin.
So, with so much talent in three sports…what are her ambitions moving forward?
“I want to represent the Diamonds and go to the Olympics.”
At this rate Kelsey…no one could possibly doubt you!
