Bunnaloo throwing above its weight

By Emily Donohoe

Sep 17, 2024

Bunnaloo Public School's Oliver Laffan will travel to Sydney for the NSW PSSA Athletics Championship. Photo: Emily Donohoe

Bunnaloo Public School student Oliver Laffan has secured himself a place at the NSW PSSA Primary Athletics Championship next month in Sydney.

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In the discus event, 10-year-old Oliver has a newly found talent, dominating the local and regional events to progress to state.

After taking out the Small School Athletics Carnival in July, then the Deniliquin District Carnival with a distance of 21.3m in August, Oliver smashed his personal best at the Riverina Primary Athletics Championship, throwing 23.04m on Friday, September 6.

This throw has seen him qualify for the PSSA Primary Athletics Championship, set to take place on Wednesday, October 23 and Thursday, 24 October at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre.

It will be the first time Oliver visits Sydney, and he is looking forward to representing the Riverina district and seeing some of the city.

“I’m excited and nervous,” he said.

The Riverina district is one of the largest PSSA zones, stretching to Young, Griffith, Gundagai and down to Moama.

A handful of students are picked from each region to compete, making it particularly impressive for Oliver, coming from a school of around 30 pupils.

The junior boys discus is set to kick off the carnival, being the first field event on Day 1.