Mark Oliphant College (MOC) Year 9 student Maenda Maenda could well be the fastest 14-year-old in Australia and is aiming to compete at the highest level in sprinting.

The fourth of six children Maenda migrated to Australia from Congo with his family in 2011 and they have been living in Munno Para West for about three years.

His star is rising fast and he has already been dubbed as the “Australian Carl Lewis” who happens to be one of the athletes he looks up to along with modern heroes such as Usain Bolt.

By the time he reaches his prime as a runner, in his early to mid-twenties, that will be between the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and 2028 in Los Angeles.  

“Olympic and Commonwealth Games is where I am aiming to compete,” says Maenda.

He broke the Australian Junior under 14 record with a time of 11.10 seconds in the 100m. This also broke the State Junior under 14 record. His best time in the 200m is 23.00 seconds and he also competes in the 400m.

Maenda sticks to a strict training schedule and is currently focussing on improving his race starts to inch down towards the 10 second barrier in the 100m.

“I need to get faster out of the blocks,” he says.

“I also need to work on my endurance beyond 150m in the 200m races.”

He is working with his coach Rick Wilson at the Saints Athletic Club and recently received the Most Outstanding Athlete Award in his first year of serious competition. He is off to a promising career start.

If the running career doesn’t take off Maenda is also focussing on his studies and wants to work in forensic psychology and possibly sport psychology. He has started to think more about psychology in his own training and competing.

Running started out as just a fun activity, and when Maenda was in Year 2 he was surprised to beat Year 4 students at school sports day.

For Maenda running is a passion, and when he is out there that is all he is focussing on. He is in his comfort zone working towards his goals.

Maenda is finding the right balance between serious focus and having fun.

Local Member of Parliament, Tony Piccolo met with Maenda recently at Mark Oliphant College and was his impressed with his quiet determination.

“Maenda is a very modest young man who understands the barriers he might face to get to the Olympics, but is willing to work hard to achieve his goals,” said Mr Piccolo.

“He is very grateful for the opportunities the College is providing him and wears the sense of responsibility with pride.”

“His teachers speak highly of him and describe him as a “deep thinker”, and “reflective”.”

“He certainly presents as a very emotionally and mentally mature young man.”

“I am concerned that the lack of financial resources might be a barrier to him being the best athlete in the world, which would be a tragedy for both him and our community.”

“I would welcome the opportunity to have a discussion with any potential sponsors.”