A FIRST-YEAR student at La Trobe University Bendigo, Kenan Seebah will be sprinting down and around Sydney's Olympic Park track at the upcoming Australian University Games.
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It's been an intense 12-week build-up for Seebah as he has trained at the Athletics Bendigo complex in Flora Hill and also at Fit Republic.
"To compete at the Uni Games was always a goal," he said of the finale to a track and field season in which he improved his times dramatically running for Eaglehawk Athletics Club.
"It will be my first time in Sydney," said the teenager who was born in Mauritius, east Africa, and has lived in Australia for the past seven years.
Seebah will race the 100m, 200m and 400m when the Uni Games are run from April 21 to 24.
"It's going to be a huge test," said the 17-year-old who graduated from Bendigo Senior Secondary College last year.
"All events are open-age, so that's daunting, but a challenge I look forward to."
Seebah's team-mates in the La Trobe team, drawn from seven campuses across Victoria and New South Wales, include Eaglehawk AC club-mate Kye Mason from Cohuna in the 100m and 200m.
After battling hamstring injuries throughout the 2019-20 season, Seebah returned fitter and stronger in 2020-21.
He achieved a top 10 result in Bendigo's rankings for AVSL in the 100m, 200m and 400m.
Seebah's times and ranking were 11.75 in the 100m, 7th; 23.93 in 200m, 8th; and 51.55 in 400m, 6th .
He also contested 800m, 2:15.07, 7th; and shot put to help Eaglehawk's run to being number one in division two of AVSL.
"I was able to do a lot more training and racing this season," Seebah said.
"Terry Hicks (coach) and club-mates helped me a lot."
His greatest supporters are parents Chico and Sheila, and older brother Yoann.
"In the 12-week training block it's been two sessions a day - workout at the gym and then at track, or morning and afternoon session at the track.
"There have been times when training is really tough, especially lactic build-up, but you push through as best you can.
"It's all about building mental toughness, and fitness," Seebah said.
Away from the track, Seebah has working stints at St John of God Hospital, and Guzman y Gomez.
A career goal is to be a sports psychologist.
"What I am doing can help gain a greater understanding of what other athletes go through. There's always challenges to overcome," said the Bachelor of psychological science student.
No matter his results, Seebah said the Games will be an invaluable learning experience.
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