ULLADULLA’S Olivia Greenhalgh will test herself against the country’s top runners, after recently qualifying for the Australian Cross Country Championships.
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Despite only being involved with the sport for three years, which also sees the 12-year-old compete in middle distance events the 800m and 1500m, she was just one of 10 girls selected for the NSW Cross Country team to compete in Queensland next month.
“I had to compete in the NSW Waratah Cross Country Series and place consistently high in each of these events to qualify for Aussies,” Greenhalgh said.
“I competed in three of these state events and had to travel to Sydney, Wollongong and Willandra.
“I placed first in the NSW Cross Country relays in the under-20s age group with my team in May and I also won the ACT Cross Country Championships last month, with a personal best of 11.27 for 3km.
“Most recently, I came third at NSW All School Cross Country Championships and placed second at NSW CHS Cross Country Championships.”
To prepare for the August 25 3km race at Melany on the Sunshine Coast, the Ulladulla High School student will ramp up her training in the coming weeks.
“My training regime is very hard, but I like how I feel after it,”she said.
“I train with my coach [Andae Kalemusic] and Limitless Track Team three times a week and I also follow a program which I do on my own three times a week as well.
“I train hard, both in Ulladulla and Batemans Bay and do lots and lots of running.
“Cross Country running is pretty tough and you need to be really fit.
“It's not just about running though, you need to strength work as well.
“My training changes depending on what we are training for and at the moment we are still in cross country season, it changes more to speed sessions for summer and athletics season.”
The Milton-Ulladulla Little Athletics product acknowledges she wouldn’t be where she is today without the commitment of her coach Andae Kalemusic.
“Andae has had a huge impact on my running, and I wouldn't be where I am without her guidance and knowledge,” she said.
“She was an amazing athlete when she was younger herself, so she really knows what she is talking about.
“She comes to all the races of our team, to encourage us and talk tactics.
“All the kids in my team help me as well, because I am one of the youngest.”
While in Queensland, Greenhalgh, who also trains with the Bankstown Sports Athletics Club, will compete against girls older than her in the under-14s division.
“I am running a double age group, meaning I will be in the same age group next year,” she said.
“It's going to be really hard though, as I will be racing against 80 plus girls and most of them will be older than me and the best in their own state's as well.
“Cross country is very competitive and lots of the girls have been racing since they were pretty young.”
“I've been told the course at Melany is hilly, which is good because I love hills.
“At the end of the day, I would like to finish as strong as I can and get a personal best.”
Following her return, Greenhalgh is keen on making nationals in the athletics arena.