If Fletch Watchman grabs your hat and takes off, don’t bother chasing him.
In February this year the BSSC Year 12 student won the Victorian state hurdles champions in his class. In April he competed at nationals and, while he would have loved a better result, Fletch came away with a renewed commitment and love for the sport.
Hurdles for men are run over 110m with ten hurdles all 106.7cm high.
Fletch has set his sights on competing at next year’s World Championships in Eugene, Oregan, USA. His present PB is 14.9 seconds and under-twenty world champion qualification time is 14.2 seconds.
He has taken seriously his dad’s advice: the main thing is not talent, but hard work and consistent work. However, Fletch also comes from a long line of successful athletes.
His great grandfather was a champion hurdler—someone Fletch never met but whose trophy sits on his desk.
His grandmother played hockey and was a hurdler; his grandfather played footy for St Kilda; and his dad is a keen cyclist and competes in Ironman championships.
Fletch’s family have been enormously supportive, offering everything from advice and guidance to making sure practicalities are sorted—like driving him to training. His grandparents even took him to the national competition when his parents were unable to get time off.
“My Dad’s passion for sport really inspires me—I especially look up to him for his pure determination. He also keeps me on track and doesn’t let my achievements go to my head.”
Fletch’s love of sport was initially nurtured by Little Athletics, which he joined at six years of age. He has since played footy and raced track bikes, but returned to athletics—and especially hurdling—in Year 9 when he was invited to a training session by a coach.
He quickly realised how much he wanted to pursue the sport.
“I don’t find the same sense of accomplishment anywhere else—it’s completely awesome.”
Fletch also competes in decathlons—two-day events with sprints, long jump, shotput, high jump, and 400m on day one; hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500m on the second.
“I’m not going to pursue decathlon seriously, but it’s a great way to build strength and capacity across the whole body.”
While he acknowledges the vital importance of a good coach, Fletch says once you’re on the track, the work you have put in will be the result you’ll see.
He finds music adds to his motivation when he’s training, so uses it whenever he can—and it gives him a boost at big events.
“I am aware how fortunate I am to be able to do something I love over and over again and not get sick of it,” he says. “That’s something you can’t replicate.”
In the light of all this, it’s no surprise to hear that Fletch’s favourite VCE subject is PE, or that he’s aiming for a career as an athlete—or at least a career that is very active.
“I get so much satisfaction from helping other people—at the moment that’s mostly with coaching.”
Fletch will consider all his options as he commits more fully to training during a gap year—probably in Geelong—in 2026.
Like all serious athletes, the Olympics are on his radar. But, also like many serious athletes, that’s not necessarily the pinnacle. Continual personal improvement is a more powerful driver.
BSSC has worked well for Fletch and when asked if he recommends the college, says, “Oh yeah, anyone with big aspirations—academically or in anything else—will find so much support here.”
The incredible choice of classes on offer at BSSC really impresses him, as do the teachers who make him feel trusted and respected.
“My teachers listen to me and speak to me with so much encouragement and trust. It makes me want to work harder. If I slack off, I feel like I’m not returning that trust.”
“Prue, my Legal Studies teacher, has even helped my sport by encouraging me to focus on what I can do rather than always feeling pressured to achieve what’s still needed.
“Kara and Mark Fox have supported my strength training by allowing me to use the college gym and given me brilliant advice about the best ways to use it—I quickly saw the benefit of their guidance.”
If he could change something about the college, Fletch would make sure SACs were more spread out so students didn’t end up with more than one or two in one week.
He imagines uni is similar to BSSC and appreciates being taught to stand on his own two feet and develop his own schedule—an approach also ideal for someone with a big sporting commitment alongside their education.
“My study style is to have everything really organised—my desk clear, my room clean—like making your mind clear by getting rid of clutter.
“I like to get my work done bit by bit—often with training sessions in between—and often use prac exams. I try not to get stressed in the first place.”
Fletch has also met many new people at BSSC and says seeing how happy most students are, has made him a much more positive person.
“The amount of stress young people seem to feel these days really concerns me—and it’s taking a toll. Really talented people will sometimes stop a sport—or even their education—because they find it too stressful.
“It’s like we develop beliefs that we absolutely MUST achieve certain things.”
Fletch greatly appreciates how his coach makes sure he’s okay, and still enjoying the sport, as well as continuing to develop athletically.
Equally, Fletch has found time with his grandparents is incredibly nurturing. He says talking with his grandmother seems to make everything normal again—and, of course, running is his natural go-to for burning off unwanted tension.
If he could change one thing about his past, Fletch would go back and tell his younger self:
“Fletch, whatever does happen, it doesn’t matter how bad it is—it’s how you come back and hold yourself and keep on striving.”
