Quick kid clears the hurdles

By Justin Robertson
PAKENHAM’S Cameron de Bruin never knew just how quick he could run.
A second place in Victoria’s Fastest Kid sprint at Olympic Park last month confirmed the nine-year old can run like a whippet.
After winning his heat races in Knox in October, Cameron qualified in his semi final and almost won the under-10 final in his first time at the state sprint competition.
“I’ve raced at Olympic Park before and it was just great to have the opportunity to run there again,” the Casey Little Athletics squad member said. “It was my best result.”
On a tropical Thursday night in December, right before the final, the heavens opened, making it a wet and slippery track.
Cameron said he wasn’t sure where he would finish.
“I was really nervous when it rained because I didn’t know what I was going to do,” he said. “I just wanted to run a good race.”
With a second place under his belt at the Victorian Fastest Kid sprint, Cameron is now focusing on the Regional Championships with Casey Little Athletics next month in Moe, where he will compete in the 60m and 80m hurdles, 100m sprint and shot put.
Despite a narrow defeat in “fastest kid”, Cameron said it’s the hurdles he’s hoping to do well in next month. If Cameron finishes first in any of his events – or if he qualifies on times – he will compete in the Victorian Championships in March.
While most kids are honing their cover drives in the nets at this time of year, Cameron is happy forging a path in jumping hurdles and sprinting.
“It’s a really active sport,” he said. “And it’s a sport I really like to do.”