SHANNON Reynolds is literally going ahead in ‘leaps and bounds’.
The fleet footed fifteen year old has secured herself a prestigious place in the Australian Regional Athletics Team which is set to compete overseas at the Oceania Carnival in the Cook Islands starting from the June 21 this year.
Shannon is from Millaa Millaa and is a Year 10 student at the Malanda State High School.
This is the eighth year that Shannon has been involved in athletics, having started when she was eight years old.
Her favourite events are the 100m, 200m and long jump and these coincidentally, are also the same events that she will be competing in.
“When I found out that I was selected for the team I was shocked and excited. I couldn’t believe that I was good enough,” Shannon said when the selections for the Australian Regional Athletics Team were announced.
Shannon has an outstanding array of achievements.
Last year she was selected for the Peninsula Team and won a silver medal at the State Championships in the Relay.
She also came second in the 2013 Queensland State Finals in both the 100m and the 200m.
In addition to her strong interest in athletics, she was also selected for the 2014 Cairns District Rugby League Team for Women.
Shannon has competed in many major locations throughout Queensland which include Brisbane (QE2 Stadium), Townsville, Cairns, Cooktown, Bowen, Tully and Innisfail.
Regardless of her impressive performances, her father Pat Reynolds, is just proud that she does her best at whatever she tries.
In a remarkable accomplishment to date, she has won over 100 medals in competitions.
The Lions Club of Millaa Millaa recently presented Shannon with a cheque of $400 to assist with the cost of attending and competing at the Oceania Carnival.
Millaa Millaa Lions Club President Mr Jim Chalk said, “It’s possibly the first time that anyone has reached this high level of representation in Athletics.
“The Lions Club of Millaa Millaa support all avenues of advancement in the sporting sphere,” he said.
“The Club would like to wish Shannon all the very best for her events in the Oceania Carnival when she goes to compete overseas.”
“We’d really like to show our appreciation to the Millaa Millaa Lions Club for their extremely generous donation,” Pat Reynolds said.
“Thank you to both the Ravenshoe Little Athletics and the Millaa Millaa Lions for their tremendous support.
“More families should seize the opportunity to involve their children in Athletics.
“With Shannon it has not been so much about natural talent but hard work and perseverance.
“There are many children in our small community with the same ability.”
