March 21, 2006 Melbourne
On 5th Feb, 2006, in an article by Len Johnson, the Age, Victoria's leading daily, reported:
"Sonia Brito did not have Jana Pittman to run against in the women's 400 metres hurdles last night, but the 26-year-old Victorian still came up with her fastest time of the season in taking the title in 56.90 seconds.
The win completed a big comeback from Brito. In 2002, she ran 55.50 and made the Manchester Commonwealth Games team. Despite hamstring soreness, she managed to finish fifth in the hurdles.
Worse was to follow, as a succession of stress fractures in her leg virtually forced Brito out of the sport. She came back gradually this year, starting with interclub competition and moving up".
That briefly oulines a small facet of the sporting career of an Australian sports star of Indian background. Sonia Brito happens to be the only person of the Indian origin to represent Australia in the Commonwealth Games of 2006 being held in her hometown, Melbourne. And she happens to be a Mangalorean. Her prouds parents are Premila and Ebbie Brito. She has a sister by name of Rohini.
Just for the record, Jana Pittman won Gold at the Manchester Commonwealth Games (2002) in 400m Hurdles. Jana, a close friend, is also the room-mate of Sonia at the Athletes' Village at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
Tomorrow, 22nd of March, 2006, Sonia will be taking part in the Heats - 400 Metres Hurdles (at 1.20 PM Melbourne time). Whether she qualifies to be in the Finals for the item on Thursday or not, she will be making Mangaloreans all over the world proud. Incredibly proud. Sonia is an athletics 'giant' who has raised the bar for all yougsters of Mangalorean origin.
The following statistics, sports history and the photos - courtesy of Athletics Australia:
AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
100 metres: 1997 - 2nd (U20)
100m Hurdles: 1997 - 2nd (U18)
400m Hurdles: 1998 - 1st (U20), 2002 - 2nd, 2006 - 1st
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Commonwealth Games: 2002 - 400m Hurdles - 5th
World Juniors: 1998- 400m Hurdles semi, 4x400 7th
East Asian Games: 2001- 400m Hurdles 1st (56.17)
World University Games: 2001- 400m Hurdles 2nd (55.72), 4x400m 5th
Sonia is a former All Schools hurdles champion, who has also dabbled in sprint events. She settled on the 400m hurdles during the 1998 domestic season and was rewarded with a national U20 title and selection in the World Junior team. Brito dramatically improved during the 2000-01 season smashing her 400m and 400m hurdles PBs.
In her first senior international, Sonia won the 400m hurdles at the 2001 East Asian Games in a personal best time of 56.17. In August Sonia was again in top form, Slashing her 400m best to 52.91 and claiming silver in the 400m hurdles at the World University Games in Beijing.
A very solid 2002 domestic season was capped by a close tussle with Jana Pittman in the Telstra A-championships with Sonia clocking a personal best of 55.50, which moved her to No 4 in Australian history. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games Sonia qualified fifth fastest in the 400m hurdles for a finals berth. Sonia went on to claim fifth in the final with a time of 57.79.
The years between 2002 and 2005 have been very tough for Sonia. She has had numerous injuries; the most severe has involved her left foot. She has undergone two operations and had five stress fractures. She resumed competition in October 2005 and ran her first 400m hurdles in over three years clocking 60.09 and then 58.1 three weeks later. In 2006 she finished 2nd in the Canberra A series meet then won the National title in 56.94. She was 2nd behind Jana Pittman in the State Titles at the MCG.
Co-ordination: Bert Naik- Australia