His selection follows a successful Queensland Secondary Schools Championships where he won both finals for the 17 years 100m in 10.93s and the 200m in 21.63s.

To add to both those achievements he ran in the Metropolitan North 4 x 100m relay team; they were running third in the event up until the last relay change where Yarnell brought the team home for a win.

A Cleveland resident, Yarnell, 16, is a descendent of the Quandamooka people of Moreton Bay and boards at Nudgee College.

He has made the Nudgee College Senior team which is one of two schools to represent Queensland in the Australian Schools Knockout Championships in Melbourne, being held two days after the Australian championships.

Yarnell has seen a dramatic improvement since starting athletics training 12 months ago under coach Tui Edwards at TEES (Thompson Estate Eastern Suburbs) Athletics Club.

Yarnell has also been asked to join the Jump Start to London 2012, a national talent identification and development program for indigenous athletes.

Along with his acceptance onto the Jump Start to London 2012 comes an invitation to participate in the 71st Singapore Track and Field Competition to be held late in November.

He is also on the lookout for sponsors to assist in costs in attending national and international events in 2010.