Athletics
29 April, 2024
Meek runs well in Adelaide
Asha Meek performed well in the Coles Australian Little Athletics National Championships in Adelaide on Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27.
Meek finished eighth in the 100m in a time of 12.89s, equalling her personal best. It was her second time under 13 seconds and considering she hadn't run under 14 seconds at the start of the season, it is a massive result.
In the 200m hurdles, Meek finished sixth and ran a faster time in the final than in her heat despite clipping a hurdle which slowed her down.
Training with Rickety Athletics, coach Ricky Price said it was a good result.
"With the 100m they didn't have heats and it was a straight final and she equaled her PB in Melbourne and had a tailwind, and with no wind this time, it was a really good result," Price said.
"Her start was good and she probably had a lapse in the middle but went again to finish the race off well. I am glad she has gotten under 13 seconds. It is a good result."
Whilst the hurdles were good, Price hoped she went better, noting clipping a hurdle that cost her a better result.
"She ran better than the first heat and in the final, she got off to a much better start," Price said.
"Unfortunately she clipped a hurdle which cost her but she got going again and ran out the race. What she has done is incredible. I can see her shaving nearly one to one and a half seconds off her time and going under 29 seconds."
Price said there is a lot of improvement and she can be even faster in the future.
"Asha still needs a lot of work on leading into the hurdles as she tends to slow down and the more experience she gets in competition, the more confident she will get," Price said.
"She is keen to go again and go back to the Nationals and what I think inspires her is the way they introduce the athletes at the start of the race and playing the music and getting names called out.
"She has gained invaluable experience and I am looking forward to what she can do in another 12 months from now."
Price said Meek will ease off now and look forward to next season.
"Next season we are looking to improve on what she is doing this year in individual events," Price said.
"She will be moving up to 300m hurdles so we will work on technique and she will improve there.
"We will also look at the heptathlon and her going to the Athletics Victoria championships with Charlie Inkster as well as Little Athletics Heptathlon."
"Hopefully she can qualify for nationals in those events."
Former Horsham Little Athlete Isla Hiscock finished fifth in the final of the 300m hurdles.