KERANG South Primary School Year 6 student Ron Dowdy has done his school proud by performing exceptionally well at the state athletics championships earlier this month in Melbourne.

Dowdy won a bronze medal in shot put and came fifth in the discus in the 12 to 13-year-old category.

School principal Lyn Veall said the whole school is “so proud” of his accomplishment.

“This is an amazing achievement,” Ms Veall said.

“Especially considering he was competing against many students who have coaches and have attended little athletics and the like for many years.”

“He just has so much natural talent.”

As with any successful sporting endeavour, it took a little bit of luck, on top of the hard work as well.

With the championships occurring around the peak of the flooding emergency, Dowdy managed to escape Kerang with the Loddon Valley Highway opening just in time, allowing him to attend.