April 16, 2025
Decathlons are considered one of the toughest events in track-and-field.
Competitors must conquer 10 events in two days: 100 metres, 400 metres and 1500 metres races, 110 metre hurdles, long jump, high jump, pole vault, discus throw, javelin throw and shotput.
Points from each event are added up to provide the overall winner.
Kingaroy teenager Ryan Mollenhauer has just proven he’s the eighth best in Australia for his age … after competing in only his second decathlon!
Ryan, 16, was part of the Queensland team selected to take part in the Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Perth on April 4-5.
He competed in the Under 17 Men’s Decathlon which was not only a new experience for him but also an opportunity to measure how much he had improved since his qualification at the Queensland Championships in January.
One of the standout moments of his performances in Perth was in the 400m, where he achieved a four-second Personal Best, breaking the 60-second barrier for the first time.
His other highlight was a 40-second PB in the 1500m.
Overall, Ryan scored more than 1000 points better than he did at the Queensland Championships, an impressive improvement that speaks to his hard work this year.
Ryan has previously competed at two National Championships in the triple jump – U16s in Adelaide and U15s in Brisbane – but the decathlon was a new challenge.
The multi-discipline nature of the event requires a high level of skill plus endurance and mental toughness.
The Year 11 Kingaroy State High School student has dedicated most of his life to athletics … he has been training with South Burnett Little Athletics for 10 years!
Ryan and his family would like to thank the South Burnett Regional Council for the Elite Youth Performance Grant which helped to cover the cost of travelling and competing in Perth.
