A massive achievement for Cowra’s own Patrick Rowston, who struck gold in the discus at the New South Wales CHS Athletics Championships.

The talented young athlete produced an outstanding performance to secure the top podium spot, marking a career highlight in what promises to be a bright future in athletics.

Patrick’s mother, Melinda Rowston, said the whole family was overjoyed with his success.

“We were pretty excited for him,” Ms Rowston said.

“He works really hard, so we’re pretty proud of him when he, you know, finds success,” she said.

For Ms Rowston, watching Patrick’s growth and development in athletics has been a rewarding journey in itself.

“It’s very exciting watching him get better and better all the time,” she said.

“It’s pretty exciting.”

“Now that he’s up at that level, we just love seeing him continue to achieve and find that success.”

Patrick’s road to the top has not been without its challenges.

Juggling school, training and other sporting commitments has tested his time management and discipline.

“There’s a lot of travel involved and a lot of time that he’s got to find in amongst everything else,” Ms Rowston said.

“He plays football and other things too.”

“The challenge is definitely in the travel and finding the time to train,” she said.

Despite these obstacles, Patrick has continued to push himself, making the most of every opportunity and proving that hard work pays off.

Patrick’s gold medal is just the beginning.

He will now compete in the New South Wales All Schools Athletics Championships in the coming weeks, with the chance to progress to the national stage.

“If he wins at the All Schools, he can progress through to the national championships, which will be in Melbourne later in the year,” Ms Rowston said.

As Patrick prepares for his next challenges, his mum had one simple but powerful message for him.

“Keep striving for success,” she said.

Patrick’s gold medal win is not only a reward for years of hard work but also a source of inspiration for other young athletes balancing sport, school, and life commitments.

With his determination and the support of his family, Patrick now looks ahead to even bigger opportunities on the state and national stage.