Using YouTube clips as part of her training, 11-year-old Archie Lyall has just won the NSW State Championships in javelin for the second year in a row in her age-group.

In 2024, when she was 10, Archie was allowed to use a real javelin and she surprised even herself by throwing it the furthest in the state.

“I started last year and just picked it up,” Archie says. “I threw a record, then went to zone and won it, then regionals - and somehow I won state with no training. Then I did the same thing this year.”

Archie at the state carnival. Source: Cathryn Lyall.

In 2025, Archie took things one step further, competing at the National Championships in Perth from April 4-8.

“There was a guy watching at the state championships who asked if I’d like to train with him. So I had two sessions with him before Nationals - and I threw my personal best there,” she says.

Archie placed fourth at Nationals, competing against athletes who have had professional coaching and years of training.

But next year, things will be different, says her mum, Cathryn.

“We’re changing that this year,” Cathryn says. “A coach in Port Hacking, Sydney - Ray Russell - has offered to train her in javelin. He’s had several athletes compete at Nationals in different age groups.”

Archie has been part of Kiama Little Athletics since the Under-9s. It’s a small club with only four athletes in her age group, run by president Craig Scott and a dedicated team of parent volunteers.

“With such a small club, we really rely on parents putting their hands up to help,” says Cathryn. 

“I’ve kind of become the manager of Archie’s age group because I’m there every week - but I didn’t know anything about athletics at first.

"I just Googled everything because there wasn’t anyone to teach us.”

Cathryn hopes that with the Brisbane Olympics on the horizon in 2032, more attention and funding will go into developing grassroots athletics programs.

“We’ve got some incredibly talented kids, but many end up in sports like Oztag or footy, where there’s more structure, funding, and coaching support,” she says.

“I’m really hoping that when the funding comes through to upgrade Kiama Sporting Complex, we see improvements not just for footy but also for athletics - because the Olympics are coming, and there’s so much talent in our area.”

Imagine what Archie can achieve with a full year of training behind her. And if you’re interested in signing your kids up for Little Athletics Kiama, you can contact them via Facebook.