Teens vie for junior honours in KL

Six Rockingham teenagers are gearing up to travel to Kuala Lumpur to compete in the 23rd International Little Athletics Championships this week.

Rockingham Little Athletics junior athletes Tia Starkie, Andrew Snook, Kiarah Kirk, Lachlan Stewart, Joshua Turner and Megan Hooper will do the region proud when they go up against teens from Malaysia and Singapore.

The competition is a unique opportunity for under-14 and 15 athletes to gain an international competitive experience - all medal winners from the Multi Event Championships and State Track and Field Championships qualify to be part of the team.

Tia, 14, is heading over to compete in triple jump and said she was stoked to be given the experience to compete internationally.

She said she followed her cousins into little athletics when she was five years old and hadn't looked back.

It was after she won gold at the State Championships in 2013 at the WA Athletics Stadium that Tia decided to really focus on her training and athletic ability.

Tia said she jumped 10.99m in the State competition this year, securing her spot in the squad and was hoping to jump more than 11m in Kuala Lumpur.

"It is a little bit nerve-racking but really exciting as well," she said.

Fellow athlete Andy Snook, 14, who started little athletics when he was seven, made the squad for his efforts in the 400m, 200m, 100m, races in the State Championships.

He said he was inspired by his father, who is a marathon runner, to get involved.

Andy said he was happy to be on the squad, but was nervous to compete against athletes from other countries. The competition runs across two days, giving the youngsters a chance to experience the sights, shopping and cuisine Kuala Lumpur has to offer.