Sport
7 May, 2026
Nina runs at national titles
A RECORD-breaking young athlete from Tully has represented Queensland at last month’s Coles Australian Little Athletics Championships after meeting Olympic gold medallist Sally Pearson at team training.
Nina Trickey’s individual event was the under-12 1500m race walk where she placed 13th.
Nina’s team, the Queensland under-12s, won the highest points adjusted score for the championships.
Nina of St Clare’s School at Tully said she enjoyed the experience.
“It was a lot of fun being a part of the Queensland team and making new friends,” she said.
Nina met Pearson as Queensland’s top young athletes gathered ahead of the national event.
Pearson, an Olympic gold medallist and Coles ambassador, returned to her Little Athletics roots to share tips and advice with the athletes as they prepared for competition.
The championships mark a milestone year for Queensland, with the state hosting the Coles Australian Little Athletics Championships for the first time in eight years.
More than 17,200 participants were involved, making it a record year for the event.
Nina’s selection placed her among the state’s leading young athletes as they prepare to compete on the national stage.
The Tully athlete also shared a light-hearted moment during training, posing for photos with bananas in a nod to her hometown.