FOUR budding athletes from one of the smallest schools in the Port Stephens region are on track for a medal at this year’s Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) State Athletics Championships at Homebush.

Identical twins Pippi and Fern Cullimore, Ruby Mercer and Emilia Symons will be chasing gold when they represent Bobs Farm Public School at the prestigious athletics meet next month.

The gifted Year Six students will forgo a Canberra camp to participate at the Championships in the PP5 Mixed Relay event.

It is the first time that Bobs Farm have fielded runners at a State Athletics carnival in the modern era – a huge achievement by the talented quartet.

Situated in a semi rural area on the Tomaree Peninsula, the school has been established for 106 years and has only 36 students.

The girls qualified for the State titles by winning the PP5 Mixed Relay with an impressive time of 59.37 sec at the recent Hunter Athletics Schools Championships held at Hunter Sports Centre.

They are also the first students from Bobs Farm school to line up at a regional athletics carnival.

Bobs Farm Public School principal Megan Elliott told News Of The Area that the entire school was proud of the girls’ athletic deeds.

“Pippi, Fern, Ruby and Emilia are a great group of naturally talented, well deserving and committed students who will go far in their fields,” revealed the school leader.

“They are well rounded pupils who inspire their cohorts and give so much back to the local school community,” Megan said.

Incredibly the girls’ winning time of 59.37 sec at the Hunter Schools Championships was attained with no practice.

The team was cobbled together earlier this year but due to the girls’ other sporting commitments outside of school the group has had minimal time to train as a unit.

Having qualified for the State Championships on October 24, the girls have pledged to go all out for a medal and will step up their training regime.

Their goal is to shave off a few seconds of that qualifying time to be in the medal mix against the best schoolgirl sprinters in NSW.

Sport is in the family genes of versatile twins Pippi and Fern, who are outstanding twelve-year-old prospects in a variety of sports.

They are the daughters of former elite athlete Francis Cullimore, a five time multiple sporting professional and rugby union/league dual international.

Pippi’s personal best time for the 100 metres sprint is 13.6 sec while Fern’s is 14.05 sec and the twins will attend Tomaree High School next year in the Targeted Sports Program.

All four girls devoted solo time to train in the lead up to the Hunter Championships with a dedicated Emilia even going through her paces while on a family holiday in Poland during the last school holidays!

By Chris KARAS