By Casey Neill
A RISING Ferntree Gully sports star has claimed a national track and field title.
Matthew Lee competed in the School Sport Australia track and field championships in Sydney last month.
The 12-year-old won the shot put gold medal with a 14-metre throw, and threw the discus 42 metres for fourth place.
Matthew was “pretty happy” to claim the title of Australia’s best under-12 shot put star.
He said the competition was “pretty tough”, vying against 16 other up-and-coming athletes from across the country in each event.
Matthew had to win his way through district, zone, region and state events for the chance to compete on the national stage.
Despite his success, athletics is just a hobby.
“I’ll do it up until athletics finishes for little athletics, but then I’ll probably take on footy for a career,” he said.
Matthew played for the successful Victorian Primary Schools Sport Association under-12 football squad in August and is also a talented cricketer.