The grants provide financial assistance to young sporting men and women, giving them the opportunity to compete in state and national championships.

For 16-year-old athletics star Hana Basic, the win was a big surprise.

“I’m going to put it towards my trip to the national championships in March,” Basic says. Too much training put the 100 metre, 200 metre and long jump star on crutches for three months, but Basic has now recovered from stress injuries.

But while she’s back on the race track, she’s taking it slow in the lead up to the March competition.

‘‘I might have to cut back on a few events for the competition,’’ she says.

One day she hopes to be as good as her sporting hero, Australian Sally Pearson, who was crowned the best female athlete in the world last year by the International Athletics Association Federation.

Until she reaches the highest accolades of her field, Basic’s sights are set on the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

‘‘I would love to compete,’’ she says.

For hockey player Sam Poppenbeek, 13, it’s the second time he’s been recognised as a Local Sporting Champion.

Every little bit helps his parents pay for the interstate trips the Victorian state player attends.

“I’ve been playing hockey since I was in grade 2, my dad played, so I did too,” Poppenbeek says.

“I hope to play for Australia one day, if I can.”

Mitchell Barry, 16, is a track and road cyclist. At the time of writing, Barry was competing in the national track titles at Adelaide. He’s been racing at a competitive level for about three years and says his $500 grant will go towards competition travel expenses. The Box Hill boy hopes to represent his country one day at a professional level.

Chisholm MHR Anna Burke commended the program for giving young people the financial assistance they need to continue to compete at a high level.

“The program provides valuable assistance to young athletes. It’s vital that we give our young local athletes every chance to be their best.’’