Brothers better by leaps and bounds

By Jarrod Potter
HURDLES run in the blood at the De Bruin house with brothers Matt, 16, and Cameron, 10, winning state athletic championships in the event.
Matt, competed at the Victorian all schools track and field championships held last weekend and won gold in the 100m and 200m hurdles and also took bronze in the 400m.
Cameron then backed up the efforts of his brother to win the 80m hurdles in the School Sport Victoria state championships
The boys were excited to win the events which cap off a good year of school athletics for the pair.
“I won the 100m and 200m hurdles and came third in the 400 metres and ran a PB by a couple of seconds,” Matt said.
“My 200m hurdles was my favourite win.
“It was an alright time and wasn’t too bad, but I just really enjoyed the race.”
Cameron was happy to get his victory, despite some nerves before the race.
“I won my 80m hurdles at Albert Park where Matt ran,” Cameron said.
“I got first in the 80m hurdles and I beat my PB. I got a 13.46 and I was really proud that I got a good time.
“I was keeping warm and getting ready, and I was really nervous, but really confident.
“He said ‘on your marks, get set, go’ and I went, and I felt so nervous I didn’t know what to do.
“But then I got my strides in properly and did what my dad told me to do and I won the race probably by a flight of hurdles.”
The boys also play for the Narre North Foxes in the South East Juniors, where Matt’s team won the under-16 division one premiership this year.
“We won the granny and beat Berwick and it was a really good win,” Matt said.
“I play centre and wing and midfield, sometimes at centre-half back for the Foxes,” Cameron said. “We didn’t have finals and we didn’t keep score but we played good and you’re still allowed to kick goals.”
Next year will be a hectic year for Matt, as he has gained a tryout spot for the Gippsland Power in the TAC Cup competition, as well as continuing with his athletics and picking up the longer distance hurdles at 110m and 400m.
“Next season after Christmas I’ll be doing 400m hurdles,” Matt said.
“That’s why I did the 400m so I can prepare for the 400m hurdles next year and it will be my main event.
“Then I get into 110m hurdles which will hopefully suit me better than 100m hurdles.
“The spacing is different (for the 110m compared to 100m hurdles). It’s better for my stride the heights get bigger and it will suit me a lot better during the season.”