A Star Is Born | Bendere Oboya
In just over one-year Ethiopian-born Sydney teenager, Bendere Oboya improved from 75 seconds to 52.69 in the 400m to go from an unknown athlete to the 2017 Commonwealth Youth champion and record a Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games qualifier in July 2017. In 2003, aged three, Bendere arrived in Australia with her family including four siblings. After four years in little athletics and with a 400m PB of 75 seconds, in 2016 she decided to concentrate on the 400m. Preparing to travel to the US on a school athletics tour, she wanted to run at her best, so her and coach Greg Smith started working together. Within a few months, at the Combined High School (Sept 2016) athletics carnival, she broke 59 seconds for the first time. Over the summer, she continued to slash her PB to 57, then in January 55.67, NSW juniors 55.01, NSW open championships 54.14 and then 53.30 to win the title.