By LIAM TWOMEY
AFTER a brilliant year on the athletics track, Morgan Mitchell was named the Don Deeble Rising Star Award winner for 2012/13. Mitchell impressed the competition’s judges with her outstanding sporting achievements, which included making the Australian Under 19 Athletics Squad and being selected as a member of the senior national 4×400 squad to prepare for the Commonwealth Games, World Relay Championships, World Championships and the Olympic Games in Rio.
Mitchell is the fastest female 400 metre runner in Victoria in both senior and junior competition and the second fastest in Australia.
The Don Deeble Rising Star Award is run by the Sunshine and Western Region Sports Club and sponsored by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club.
Each month, one nominee receives $1000 towards achieving their sporting goals before the top four athletes are invited back for the competition’s grand final.
As the overall winner, Mitchell took home a cheque for $5000 to help her reach her future sporting goals.
“I just want to thank all the sponsors and everyone involved with the award,” Mitchell said.
“I really appreciate everything they have done for me. I didn’t expect to win because all the guys in the final were so good.
“I’m just really excited and with all the trips I have got coming up, it is a huge help.”
Mitchell also thanked her coach, Peter Burke, for the hard work he has done in helping her get to the top.
“I have been working with him for 10 years coming up in March/April and he is the best,” Mitchell said.
“He has done everything for me. He has taken me to a lot of my training sessions. He has been there when I have been injured. I really respect him and owe everything to him. The best thing about him is that he doesn’t just care for me. He takes time for everyone in the club (Western Athletics). He is like family now.”
Also on the night, three cheques for $2000 were presented to the joint runners-up of the award.
They were Dejan Vasiljevic (basketball), Nathan Pellissier (table tennis) and Aaron Wain (taekwondo).
The action didn’t end there with AFL legend David Parkin on hand as the guest speaker.
Parkin gave an enthralling account of his time in the AFL world and the importance of providing support for young athletes.
