No hurdles for this athlete

Danielle Shaw of Wesley College’s Glen Waverley campus has started 2016 strongly with her achievements in hurdles. Danielle has been selected in the Australian team to complete in the International Association of Athletics Federations’ World Under 20 Championships in July in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Danielle has competed in three states in February and March, winning a gold medal at the Victorian Track and Field Championships and competing at the Canberra Track Classic at the Australian Institute of Sport and the Australian Junior Athletics Championships and Perth Track Classic in Western Australia.

Currently in Year 12, Danielle manages a busy schedule, with hurdles training occupying about 14 hours a week. Strongly interested in athletics since she was eight, once Danielle found her passion with hurdles she has concentrated solely on it from then on. She has also trained with the same coach, Peter Benifer, throughout her journey.

Danielle draws inspiration from Australian hurdler Michelle Jenneke, saying “Many people have told me that we are very similar, and hopefully I will be able to follow her path. Michelle is one of the happiest athletes I’ve seen and she always looks like she’s enjoying the moment! Michelle and her family are also very encouraging as they always make the effort to come up to me at competitions and congratulate me, or be there to give words of encouragement.”

Also an avid Essendon supporter, Danielle will also find the time to attend some games for the red and black, as well as representing Wesley College and Ringwood during the year in hurdles. We wish Danielle all the best in Poland!