PERSONAL bests have been coming thick and fast for Singapore-bound athlete Damien Birkinhead.
Birkinhead has warmed up for August's Youth Olympic Games by throwing a personal best of 21.08 metres with the five kilogram shot put and a series of PBs with heavier shots.
The Teesdale teen said he couldn't wait to represent Australia again, just a year after making his debut at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Italy last year.
"It's very exciting. I competed in the IAAF championships in Italy last year but didn't throw very well but the last couple of weeks I've been throwing PBs with a 7kg shot put," Birkinhead said.
Birkinhead, who is a member of the Barwon Sports Academy, enjoyed a dominant domestic season. He capped off his big summer by winning three gold medals at the 2010 Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Sydney in April.
His coach Alex Gusbeth said the 17-year-old was the best young shot putter and one of the brightest hammer throw prospects he had been involved with.
"He's the second best hammer thrower I've had and easily the best shot putter. He's broken all the Australian (junior) records and he's ranked No.6 in the open men's shot put rankings," Gusbeth said.
"In under-20 he's about a metre ahead of everyone else and now he's off to the first ever under-18 Olympic games."
