Albany Little Athletics young gun Mason Watkins leaps onto international competition for WA in Malaysia

Rising Albany athlete Mason Watkins will put his hops to the test this weekend when Athletics West compete in Malaysia for the 2024 International Tour.

Going up against athletes from the Singapore Sports School Council and Ministry of Education Malaysia in the annual two-day tournament held at Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Watkins will compete in the under-15 boys triple jump on Sunday.

He was selected for the touring side after his 12.29m jump netted him a bronze in the under-16 event at the 2024 WA State Track and Field Championships in February and is one of three regionally-based males selected.

Watkins also finished 13th in the under-16 triple jump event at the Australian Junior Championships in Adelaide in April.

He was selected alongside fellow Albany Little Athletics Club member and 400m specialist Caleb Benson, who is unable to compete.

Thirty-three athletes aged 14 and 15, who won medals at the State championships or State Combined Event Championships, were invited to be nominated for the team to represent WA at the international competition.