DESPITE jumping 10 centimetres below her best, high jumper Clare Berto was crowned Victorian All Schools champion at Olympic Park this month.
The 15-year-old from Franklinford competed in the under-16 section, which produced low scores across the board.
"We were all having a bad day. There was a lot of water on the ground," she said.
"I jumped 1.50 metres, my best is 1.61 metres. It would have been better if I earnt it."
Berto has progressed in her sport since the age of 11 when she finished fifth at the State Championships without a coach. She was jumping about 1.35 metres.
A new coach in Paul Cleary the next year saw her jump 1.61 metres.
The Wendouree Athletic Club member has her eyes set on jumping 1.66 metres to qualify for the national championships for the next three years.
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