The talented Singleton Public School (SPS) student has just returned from the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (NSWPSSA) Girls Cricket carnival. Representing the Hunter, Van Zyl played four days of cricket and the team won four out of their six matches.

Her mum, Marisa, says it was a very busy week but she made lots of new cricket friends.

“The standard of cricket was very high,” she says. Prior to this the all-rounder made her second consecutive appearance at the NSWPSSA Athletics Championships.

The event was held at the world class Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre from Wednesday, October 18, to Thursday, October 19. This year she qualified for both the shot put and discus, whereas in 2016 she only competed in the discus.

To achieve her goal of getting the state champs a second time, Van Zyl came first in the discus and second in the shot put at zone. Then at the regional competition, she came second in the discus (26.72m) and third in the shot put (9.04m).

“I felt more confident this time around,” she says. But now it’s back in to the regular athletics season where she hopes to once again progress through to the Little Athletics state championships.