Teacher scores top marks at champs

Waikiki Primary School teacher and athletics veteran Trevor Scott has returned from the Oceania Masters Athletics Championships, adding a handful of medals to his trophy cabinet.

Scott performed well in the week-long event, which was held in Mackay on August 31 to September 7, despite previously being struck down by illness just days before the event.

“I was so sick for about a week before I left to head over to Mackay,” he said.

“My body shut down and I thought I’d be in huge trouble.”

The dedicated long-distance runner collected five gold, one silver and one bronze medal overall.

After recovering from illness just in time to compete, Scott faced another challenge, suffering a minor injury and placing fourth in the 800m event.

“I still had more events to go ... I didn’t want to push it to hard,” he said. But he was determined to make the trip worthwhile.

Scott won gold in his age category in the individual 5000m, 8000m cross country and half- marathon events and was crowned the top West Australian athlete at the championships.

He also claimed silver in the steeplechase and bronze in triple jump before adding two golds in the team cross country and team half-marathon events.