After three years off due to an injury, Kiama’s 13 year old Coco Butcher has come back stronger than ever, earning a spot to run for NSW in the 2022 Australian All Schools Track and Field Championships.

Coco and her father, Chick, had a goal for Coco to make it to the State, but with a second place win she has is one of two chosen to head to the Australian Championships in Adelaide to compete in the Under 14 100 metre.

“To surpass that goal has been really amazing for her. A lot of the other girls compete all year round, but for Coco to just go back, get through to the finals and place, it is a great outcome,” Chick says.

One of Coco’s last competitions was in the 2019 Primary Athletics Championships held in Darwin where she placed third in the 100 metre, second in relay, and fifth in the 200 metre. 

Coco (left) at the medal ceremony

With both excitement and nerves running through Coco ahead of the Championships, she and her family have a jam-packed few months ahead of them as Coco is involved in another sport.

“Coco has the Australian Oztag Championships in two weeks’ time in Coffs Harbour, then NSW City vs Country Oztag two weeks after that, with training in Canberra, then a month later we are off to Adelaide,” Chick says.

Since Coco started athletics at eight years old, her end goal has been to continue running at state finals until 16, and then move across to the National Women’s Rugby League.

The Championships begin on 9 December.