Three emerging runners from Seymour are fast making a name for themselves on the Victorian athletics scene.
Lucy Zotti, Olivia Attard and Cooper Lubeck have tasted success in recent weeks on the Victorian Athletics League circuit as they continue their rise .
Zotti claimed a memorable Wangaratta Gift win last month, which was followed by Attard and Lubeck securing sashes last weekend at Keilor.
Lubeck secured the 1600m men’s sash, while Attard walked away with the women’s 1600m sash.
The talented and dedicated trio is part of a tight-knit group based at Seymour which trains under experienced coach and Lubeck’s father Kelvin.
The group, which is dubbed the Kelfits, trains three to four times a week.
Kelvin Lubeck, who holds a Level 3 Australian Track and Field coaching certificate accreditation, has been the mastermind behind the trio’s recent performances.
“I’m very proud of their achievements,” Lubeck said.
“There’s about eight to 10 I train in Seymour about three or four times a week and it’s fantastic to see some of them get reward for effort.
“Cooper and Olivia are quite new to competitive athletics. Cooper’s started to take it more serious in the past few years following a hip injury playing footy, while Olivia is one of our newest members.”
Zotti’s achievement winning the 120m women’s Wangaratta Gift was a memorable moment for athlete and mentor.
It was Zotti’s maiden gift triumph, a remarkable feat considering her main strengths on the track are in the 400m and 800m events.
“It’s not easy to win a gift. They say on average you might win one in eight years,” Zotti said.
“I’m really grateful to have won and it took me a while for it to sink in once I started to reflect. It was nice to know Kelvin shared that win with me and had that same level of appreciation.
“A lot of us have grown up together and are based here in Seymour.
“I’m so thankful for the Kelfits group. They have helped change my perception (on athletics) and I’ve rediscovered my love for athletics again.”
Kelvin was full of praise for his star pupil, who he has trained for the past 10 years.
“I think Lucy is running as good now as she ever has before,” he said.
“Our aim now is to head to Stawell and be very competitive in the 400m event.”
Zotti, Attard and Lubeck will head to the famous Stawell Gift carnival on the Easter weekend in a bid to chase more glory.