Hurdles sensation Anna Taylor-Anderson in bid for Youth Games selection

PORT Stephens hurdler Anna Taylor-Anderson is lapping up Australia’s re-emergence as a track and field powerhouse.

Inspired by the deeds of sprint kings Gout Gout and Lachie Kennedy, as well as Torrie Lewis and distance queen Jessica Hull, the 15-year-old Salamander Bay schoolgirl has set her sights on competing at the 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games on the Mediterranean isle of Malta.

The budding star is leaving no stone unturned in her bid to qualify.

Anna, who is with the Port Stephens Athletics Club, hopes to represent Australia in the 100m hurdles and has already commenced an intensive training program under leading coach Bob Walkley.

The eighth edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games will take place from October 27 to November 4 next year, bringing together athletes aged 14-18 from across the Commonwealth.

The Tomaree High School student is one of the best sprint hurdlers in the Hunter region with notable victories over the 80m and 90m at an elite level.

She led her club’s charge at the recent NSW Junior Track and Field Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre.

With three female hurdlers to be named in the Australian squad, Anna will focus on 100m events in an effort to achieve the Youth Games qualifying mark of around 14.6s.

Anna has already achieved a personal best time of 13.06s for the 90m hurdles and believes she can quickly adjust to the 100m distance.

“Anna is a natural athlete with loads of potential and has the drive and determination to succeed,” Walkley told News Of The Area.

“There is plenty of improvement to come on her learning curve, and she is a dedicated hurdler who is always up for the challenge.”

In switching to the 100m distance, Anna will have to clear 10 hurdles instead of nine with the space increasing from 8m to 8.5m.

She’ll now step up her training at Dick Burwell Oval at Tomaree Sports Complex.

Anna will be 16 when Athletics Australia announces the squad next year.

By Chris KARAS