South West runner to take on the world

South West athlete Josh Wigmore is preparing for the run of his life, when he represents Australia at the Oceania Athletics Championships in Fiji next month.

The 16-year-old made the finals of the 400m in March’s Australian Athletics Junior Championships at Sydney Olympic Park and has qualified for the individual and relay 400m races.

Josh said he could not believe he was going to wear the green and gold and that the reality “was yet to sink in”.

“I am happy to be selected,” he said.

“It is a tough race and something I put a lot of effort into.

“I like to feel the burn.”

Josh said he gained a lot of confidence from his experience at the Australian Athletics Junior Championships.

He trains three to four times a week, ramping it up as the date of the games gets closer.

“It is a lot of work,” he said.

Athletics Australia and Queensland Athletics’ Team Australia which consists of more than 150 athletes.

It features able-bodied and para-athletes in the under 18, under 20 and open categories.