Twenty-seven years later, her daughter Lara has been given the same honour and will be representing NSW at ALAC next weekend.

A member of the Shoalhaven LAC, 15-year-old Lara Check is looking forward to following in her mother’s footsteps as she prepares for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

“[Mum] said the Little A’s State Team was her favourite memory of her athletics competitions,” said Check.

“Her advice is to just go and enjoy every minute, relax and be grateful that I’ve been selected for this opportunity as it’s one I will never forget.”

Lara has enjoyed a successful summer season in athletics – at the State Combined Events Championship in Dubbo last month, she came 1st in the javelin and 2nd in the long jump U17 events, placing 2nd overall in the two-day competition.

It was from this stellar performance that Lara was awarded a spot in the LANSW State Team for ALAC.

“I bombed my high jump in Dubbo… I have been struggling to get my run-up right since a growth spurt in September last year,” said Check.

“My high jump run-up is definitely a focus for me this winter.”

Lara competed in Hobart last month for the Australian Junior Combined Events – regrettably, a tumble in the 100m hurdles meant she finished in 4th place, an agonising 22 points behind 2nd.

During the two State Team camps in preparation for the ALAC tour, Lara has cherished the supportive and friendly comradery among her fellow competitors.

“I enjoyed making new friends from all over the state who also love athletics as much as I do,” said Check.

“Everyone automatically clicked and got along – the whole team contact each other every day on a group chat.

“After making such close friendships at the camps, I’m also excited to be travelling with my friends and supporting each other to do well and come home with lots of PBs!”

While cementing a consistent high jump run-up is a primary focus for Lara, she admits her throwing events also need improvement as she strives to become a respected heptathlete.

“I only began throwing once a week in November last year, so I still have a lot to learn… although my coach has helped me double my javelin PB already,” said Check.

“I haven’t run many 800m events before, so this is also a focus to improve on, but I’m happy to have achieved five-second PBs in the three runs I have done.”

Outside of athletics, Lara plays volleyball and touch football for her school – she also danced at a younger age, a hobby she has sadly neglected since focusing on athletics.

“Now that I would like to focus on heptathlons, I don’t have time to play other sports because it’s tough fitting in training for seven events with school and having to travel over an hour to Wollongong to train,” said Check.

“When I’m not at athletics, I love camping, hanging at the beach, riding my rip stick skateboard and eating!”

Lara’s mother continues to participate in athletics competitively – in 2016, Janie claimed gold in the 400m event at the Masters Championships 35-39 years category in the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre.

Competing at the Commonwealth Games is a foreseeable long-term goal for Lara – with every accolade and achievement, that’s slowly becoming a more realistic prospect for the 15-year-old.

“Earlier this year, Mum took my sister and I to the Commonwealth Games in Queensland for my Christmas present, and we watched Celeste Mucci and Alicia Burnett represent Australia in the heptathlon,” said Check.

“I would love to be there like these amazing athletes, and after taking up Heptathlon in November 2018, I have been setting short-term goals for each event to aim for.”