Academy berth for young SW athlete

Clinton Yarran hopes to take his performance on the athletics track to the next level when he travels to Melbourne next month to take part in the prestigious Raise the Bar Academy.

The Newton Moore Senior High School Clontarf Academy student is a South West schools triple and high jump champion and also shows promise as a middle distance runner.

His feats on the track this year earned the 16-year-old one of just 36 spots in the Raise the Bar Academy – an Athletics Australia initiative designed to support indigenous secondary school students who are interested in pursuing tertiary education and a career in the sports industry.

Yarran, a colt with the Carey Park Football Club, said he began athletics in primary school to complement his football.

“I became interested in athletics by watching the Olympics and took it up in Year 5, ” he said.

“If I don’t have a future in football I would definitely be keen to pursue athletics professionally.”

Clinton will attend the University of Melbourne for a four-day residence camp from January 19-22 where he will receive coaching and mentoring from some of Australia’s elite past and present track stars, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nova Peris.

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