Athletics
9 April, 2024
Inkster aiming for personal best
Thursday, April 11, Warracknabeal's Charlie Inkster will compete in the Heptathlon at the 2024 Chemist Warehouse Australian Track and Field Championships at the South Australian Athletics Stadium.
Inkster has qualified for the U20 women's Heptathlon following a lot of hard work and determination. The Heptathlon consists of seven disciplines over two days where you earn points to determine the winner.
The Heptathlon starts on Thursday with four events being the 100m Hurdles, High Jump, Shot Put and 200m. On Friday, it concludes with Long Jump, Javelin and 800m.
Inkster, a member of the Eureka Athletics Club is coached by Ricky Price. Price has been coaching athletics for over 25 years and is a level-three coach with Athletics Australia.
He has had several athletes make and medal at national championships in many different events and his athletes range from 10-18 years of age. Price has been coaching Charlie for five years.
Training for Inkster consists of five to six sessions per week. Two of the sessions are with Rickety Athletics Training Squad, which focuses on event technique, drills, plyometrics and fitness. Inkster trains at home for speed and endurance, two gym or Pilates sessions a week and two 30-45min jogs.
Inkster also competes regularly with Eureka Athletics Club in Ballarat and other state competitions. This championship is a reward for her commitment, dedication and above all, perseverance.
Price said training is about a wide range of things from fitness, skills and learning from mistakes.
"Training is not only about technique and fitness but about learning basic movements and being able to feel the movement for the athlete to 'coach' themselves in knowing what movement or position caused the outcome," he said.
"Training is a good place to make mistakes to learn from and learn to deal with things that go wrong at competition in a relaxed and calm way to be able to compete at your best when needed."
This event is Inkster's first national championships and the focus is not about winning, but rather on experience and breaking some personal bests.
"The 800m is her most competitive event with javelin the least," Price said.
"It would be great to get seven PB's, but realistically three or four would be good. I can, however, see her getting a PB in each event if conditions are good.
"I just want her to be as competitive as possible and to gain experience in the highest competition in the country and perform at her highest level with composure under pressure."
The Heptathlon is a grueling event and Price said it's great for athletes to get out of their comfort zone and learn different events.
"The Hepthathon is difficult to master with all the different events and types of training and also to coach," Price said.
"It's a great event for young athletes to learn the events and get out of their comfort zone and be prepared to do an event they may not, for now, be very good at.
"Athletes must not be afraid of losing as it can build that mental resilience needed for all sports."
Inkster said she is looking forward to the challenge and is aiming to break her PB of 3470 points.
"I'm very excited as I have never qualified for nationals before. My main aim is to get a PB in my points," she said.
"I am excited to experience the highest competition in Australia against the best athletes."