The best of the best from each state gather at the Australian Athletics National Championships every year to run, jump, throw, and write their names into history. This year, some will have travelled from further away than most: among the athletes representing the Northern Territory are those who come from its most isolated reaches, graduates of the Rio Tinto Athletics For The Outback program.
Through its work providing coaching as well as additional support to win further funding, AFTO in the Northern Territory has reached dozens of far-flung communities and produced a crop of First Nations athletes that have qualified for the Australian All Schools National Championships over the past two years.
But there are those who have now taken it to the next level at Nationals, set for the 4th to 8th of April at the WA Athletics Stadium in Perth, Western Australia.
Trevor Gayundurr (Yolngu Matha, /Elcho Island) will run the 100m, 200m, and 400m in the Under-20 men’s age group. Briseis Brittain (Djambarrpuyngu, Ramingining) will line up over the 200m and 400m in the women’s Para Athlete TF 38 classification. And Romone Lewin (Tiwi Islands) will run 100m and 200m after competing in the long jump and javelin in the men’s Para Athlete TF 37.
Trevor was one of the first athletes whose talent was identified and grown through the AFTO program, receiving support through coaching, equipment, and financial assistance over the years. He competed with his peers at the Northern Territory Championships, the East Arnhem Championships, and the All Schools Championships last year where he raced on the big stage against breakout track star Gout Gout. He achieved a personal best placing ninth in their 100m heat and 10th in the 200m, marking him as one of the NT’s most promising athletes. Making his first appearance at Nationals this year, he is looking forward to achieving his goals and growing as an athlete.
Briseis underwent training during the first year of the AFTO program in Ramingining, which provided her the foundation on which to build and become a better athlete over the succeeding years. At the 2024 All Schools, she won three gold medals, and at last year’s Nationals she took gold in the 200m and 400m and silver in the 100m. Her dream is to be like her idol Cathy Freeman and represent Australia, with an eye toward the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games.
Romone competed at Nationals last year in Adelaide and also represented Australia at the Oceania Athletics Championships, where he won bronze in the long jump. He received equipment support from AFTO in his journey building toward elite para athletics.
AFTO First Nations Coordinator Sam Ajisafe says, “These First Nation athletes all have big dreams to achieve and have overcome so much just to get to the starting line – and we are thrilled that Athletics For The Outback support in coaching, equipment, and financial assistance has helped them get there. I am immensely proud of how far these athletes have already come, and looking forward to how far they can go.”
Posted: 9/5/2025
