By JARROD POTTER
INHERITING his nana’s love of discus has guided Declan McBean well throughout his time in the track and field ranks.
The next McBean to make their mark at Springvale Little Athletics Centre, Declan has become the family’s third-generation athletics all-rounder.
McBean, 14, from Dandenong North, has had a discus in his hand as long as he can remember, after his nana Merle McBean – the City of Greater Dandenong’s Citizen of the Year in 2001 – ushered him into the athletics world.
His prowess with the field sport has earned him a ticket to Perth to compete in the Athletics Australia Junior Track and Field Championships after a stellar weekend at the Victorian championships.
With a best throw of 41.19m in the recently held Victorian championships, McBean finished third in the discus to earn a ticket to the nationals.
“Made it to the nationals in Perth for seniors and I’m an emergency for the ALAC squad for under-15s in little athletics,” McBean said.
“I like discus the most because of my nana – she inspired me to do discus when I was younger and she was a judge for nationals everywhere.”
At the state championships, running for Haileybury Athletics Club, McBean clocked in at 13.30 for the 100m sprint, 24.89 in the 200m sprint and, most importantly, a 33.26 second-run for the 200m hurdles to earn another assignment in the state colours.
McBean’s running and field acumen makes him one of the only literal track and field participants at the national championships, as he will be part of the under-16s 200m hurdles and discus at the nationals held from 8-13 March.
McBean just wants to push his limits and see how far his athletic abilities can take him; whether he can receive a medal or not doesn’t matter too much.
“Trying to get into the top eight for discus and just doing my best in the 200m hurdles,” McBean said.
“I’ve got discus and hurdles and been going pretty good in sprints, too.”
McBean is also an emergency for the Australian Little Athletics Championships team and when he’s not sprinting about during summer he is also a handy footballer who is set to turn out for Parkmore Pirates this junior footy season.
