Athletics: Stellar Shellees shooting for the stars

If Carroll Place residents are wondering why mysterious indentations and lines are popping up on a vacant lot in their street. Don't worry, it's not a visit from an extra-terrestrial.

The culprit is 15-year-old shot put sensation Shellees Uerata.

A student from Rotorua Lakes' High School, Uerata has been causing a stir with her athletic prowess.

Shellees recently returned from the Waikato/Bay of Plenty athletic champs held at Tauranga Domain.

The Year 11 student was a show stopper while competing in the girls' shot put.

"They [my competitors] were really big, like they were really good. They were humongous. I was very nervous, I was like, "no, they're going to beat me".

"But my aunty was like "just calm down," and then my second throw, it was amazing and they were chasing me the whole competition," Shellees said.

"I don't think anyone knew who I was when I got there ... they were all talking away and stuff and I was the first to throw. Then Dad said as soon as I threw, they all went silent. It was so cool."

The youngster with the infectious laugh and friendly demeanour threw a personal best in her first throw with a 10.3m throw using a 3kg shot.

"That was the best I'd ever thrown and then my second one was 11.25m and, oh my gosh, you should have seen my face, I was jumping up and down.

"I was so happy and my dad had a smile from ear to ear, it was so amazing," Shellees said.

Shellees' win has qualified her for next month's North Island Champs in Masterton.

Her qualification has meant extra training, not just at school but at home where her father has measured up a shot put area on a vacant lot next to their home on Carroll Place. The area now resembles a surface of a golf ball with dimple marks splattered around the area.

"I've been doing a lot of weights and stuff and Dad bought me a shot put and mowed me a circle out in the paddock so I've been throwing with a heavier shot (4kg) just over 10m."

Surprisingly when it comes to throwing, Shellees admits she's not very good at throwing anything but a shot put. "I'm quite bad. I don't know why? I just can't throw much of anything else. I can throw a water polo ball. I'm good at that."

Shellees told the Rotorua Daily Post her goal is to try and qualify for the New Zealand champs later in the year and one day emulate her sporting idol. "(Kiwi Olympian) Valerie Adams, she's amazing," she said.

"I've never met her but I've met her brother, I've met Baz. I want to go to the Olympics, that's like a big dream but it would be really cool."

Adams has a personal best throw of 21.24m.

The North Island Championships are in Masterton on April 6 and 7.