Coaching Success – Craig Mottram
Mentone Grammar’s outstanding athletics coach, Craig Mottram (Class of 1998), has been named the head coach and manager of the ‘On Athletics Club Oceania’.
In addition to coaching, Craig has a wealth of experience as an athlete including winning bronze in the 5000m at the 2005 World Championships, silver in the same event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and two 3000m World Cup golds.
With the Brisbane 2032 Olympics nine years away, the Oceania team is skewed towards training and development. “The goal from my point of view, and it’s globally supported as well, is to build this team with developing athletes,” said Craig.
The initial five members of the team were revealed on Wednesday 22 February 2023, with Claudia H (Year 12) earning a place as one of the inaugural members. Last year, Claudia competed in the 800m at the World Junior Championships in Colombia and the World Athletics Championships in the USA, all while juggling her Year 11 studies.
“Claudia who’s 17, will be 27 come 2032, so she’ll be in her prime,” said Craig. “Everyone wanted to train with Claudia, she’s a gun. Great personality, phenomenal athlete, exceptionally bullish in terms of what she wants to do and that makes her a great training partner.”
We congratulate Claudia and Craig on everything they have accomplished so far, and look forward to seeing what they achieve over the next nine years and beyond!