Clarkefield’s Cody Rodwell has always had ability when it comes to athletics.
Joining Sunbury Little Aths when he was in under-6s, Rodwell has been a frequent medal winner in region and state competitions over the years.
Now part of a talented group of boys in the under-14 and 15 age groups at Sunbury, Rodwell has stepped out of the shadows of some of his teammates this summer.
First, he took out the under-15 Victorian state multi championships, which is in the format of a heptathlon. He finished more than 300 points clear of the second place-getter.
“I wasn’t expecting to win the event, so I was shocked to get it,” he said last week. I was just happy to win a medal. My mate [Brennan Wilkins] also competed and finished third. It was a good weekend.”
Next, Rodwell stepped up from Little Athletics to compete in under-17 long jump, javelin and the 100-metre sprint at the 2016 Victorian junior track and field championships.
He had most success in an event he usually does more for fun – javelin – finishing second, while he placed fourth in long jump and made the final of the sprint.
“You had to place first, second or third to qualify for nationals,” Rodwell said. “It was a shock to go so well and get into the team for Perth. I’m expecting it to be hard in my age group. The best thrower in the group is from Frankston and I know what to expect. He throws it a lot further than me.”
Sunbury teammate Melvin Monleh won the under-15 100-metre sprint and will also go to Perth for the national junior titles from March 8-13. Another teammate, Junior Mabia, won four medals at the same national junior titles last year.
With his season just beginning, Rodwell, a Maribyrnong College year 10 student, went on to win these same events – long jump, javelin and 100-metre sprint – at last month’s northern metro region Little Athletics championships, where he broke the region’s record in his favourite event, the long jump. He will compete in all three disciplines at state championships on March 19-20, his last in Little Athletics.
“Long jump is my favourite as I’ve been doing it for longer,” he says. “I just know what to expect. The 100 metres was a shock. I felt good and wasn’t expecting to win that.”
Rodwell says he wants to at least medal in all three events at the state titles. Sunbury could take home five gold medals in the under-15 age group, with Mabia (shot put) and Wilkins (high jump) having won their events at the region level.
Rodwell’s ability isn’t limited to athletics. He’s also highly skilled at baseball and softball, having made Victorian teams in both.
“Athletics would be my favourite sport at the moment coz I’m performing well at it.”
