Geraldton’s Ella Batten in line to represent WA in junior Australian heptathlon competition after State silver

Just one sport was never going to be enough for Geraldton’s Ella Batten, so she’s chosen all of them. Well, seven anyway — and the 15-year-old has already taken a silver in her newfound discipline of heptathlon, and is in line to represent WA. Ella won silver in Perth at the State Track and Field Heptathlon Championships last weekend in the under-17s division. Her mum, Nicole, said heptathlon gave Ella the chance to shine in multiple disciplines. “Heptathlon is a new thing for her,” Nicole said. She said Ella hoped to eventually make Brisbane 2032 as a technical support crew member for Australian Olympics athletes. To get that far, she would be competing in as many high-level events as possible, she said. The next event on the horizon is nationals, with Ella qualified to represent WA at the Australian Combined Event Championships in March in Sydney, she said. “We are crossing our fingers our Geraldton and other State qualifiers can get across and back home again,” she said. She said the support of the Mid West Academy of Sport and the local athletics community had been key to Ella’s medal win. Ella’s grandfather and coach, Gary Clark, said the medal came a half-century after his own silver at the 1972 State Decathlon Championships, behind Australian champion Robby Goff. “She turned the clock back 50 years,” Clark said. He said Ella had decided three months ago to transition from hurdles and steeplechase to the “gruelling” seven-discipline combined event and completed her first event in searing heat. “Her introduction under trying conditions, 40 degrees both days, was nothing short of outstanding,” he said. “Ella can complete in this age division again next year, and with a solid winter season working on building strength and speed she has a bright future as a heptathlete.”