Emily gets jump on championships

Ipswich high jumper Emily Charlick is off to Sydney for the Australian Youth Championships.

LIKE many people her age, Emily Charlick is dealing with the stresses of study, work and keeping on top of a busy schedule.

That’s why the easygoing Ipswich athlete has realistic expectations at this week’s Australian Youth Championships in Sydney.

While always striving to achieve her best, the high jumper said recent training interruptions and trying to sort out some university issues had made it difficult to focus on her athletics.

“This rain, it’s just hopeless trying to train around it,” she said after her latest session with coach Bailey Pashley at his Walloon property.

“I haven’t been doing a lot lately.”

Charlick, 18, has also just transferred from University of Queensland to QUT where she’s now studying two disciplines – Nursing and Exercise and Movement Science.

“There’s a lot of stress,” the former Bremer State High School student said.

“It’s just been different because of the transition from school to uni last year. It’s just kind of impacting a little bit.

“I’ve just got to get my life a little bit more organised.”

However, through all the pressure, Charlick is determined to battle on.

“I just want to see how I compete,” she said.

“I want to try and get somewhere up near the 1.75 mark again. But that’s a big ask compared to what I have been doing.”

Yamanto-based Charlick cleared 1.6m to finish third in the under-20 high jump at the recent state titles.

“I’m not very happy with that one,” she said. “It was nowhere near my personal best.”

In Sydney, Charlick is competing in the under-20 high jump along with Ipswich and District Club training partner Jacqueline Griffin.

Their final is on Sunday.

The Ipswich club is sending a strong contingent to Sydney for the championships, starting Thursday.

Other competitors include Melissa Hamer (under-17 discus), Stephanie Zimmerman (u17 high jump), Erika Berlin (u15 200m hurdles), Aaliyah Chambers (u16 200m hurdles), Isabelle Harland (u16 200m hurdles and 90m hurdles), Jordern McCamley (u18 400m and 800m), Glen Yarham (u20 1500m and 3000m steeplechase), Connor O’Leary (u16 800m) and Larissa Chambers (u16 100m and 200m).