Catholic Life Publication of the Diocese of Sale
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ISSUE 183
August 2014
Leongatha’s Golden girl
GOLD medal winning high jumper Eleanor Patterson (centre) is welcomed back to school after her Commonwealth Games victory by director of Catholic education Maria Kirkwood and principal Michael Delaney. L E O N G A T H A Eleanor by-passed this year’s jumped 1.86m and 1.89m but junior titles which under strong competition from schoolgirl Eleanor world were held the week before an English jumper, missed her Patterson is the toast the Commonwealth Games first attempt at 1.92m. of Gippsland after to concentrate on her medal However, she cleared it at second attempt and then winning gold in the chances at open competition. She returned to school last soared over 1.94m, a height Commonwealth Games week and was feted by the the Englishwoman could not high jump event. school for her outstanding achieve. The 18-year-old is in Year 12 personal achievement. In a stadium packed with at Mary MacKillop Regional Described a quiet, unassuming 40,000 cheering fans was a solid College, Leongatha, and is athlete, her natural smile made core of hometown support. predicted to have a bright future her a crowd favorite after she Mum Helen, father Mark, in the sport. won her gold medal. sister Matilda, two aunts, Her Glasgow gold follows Photos of her draped in the her nanna and coach Dave COLLEGE captains Sarah Lindsay (middle) and Arabella on from a world junior title in Australian flag were beamed Green and his wife were Steenholdt (right) presenting Eleanor some flowers on behalf of Donetsk, Ukraine, last year and around the world and Australia loudly cheering the schoolgirl the college. then equalling the world junior rejoiced that it had found champion on. high jump record of 1.96m another track and field athlete Eleanor wasn’t sure she had class athletes are coached and Leongatha, wherever she and at the Australian All School who can perform on the world won until her coach confirmed train at national or state sports her coach can erect the jumps institutes, Eleanor’s training his and throw down a landing mat. Championships in Brisbane last stage. it. December. At Glasgow, Eleanor easily While most other world been on various ovals around
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