Sport
8 November, 2022
Racing to the national finish line
THREE young local athletes are currently training harder than ever as they prepare to represent Queensland at the Australian All Schools Nationals for Athletics.
Malanda State High School students Erika Koehlman, Paige Grose and Bronte Grose have done their school, community and state proud and will be travelling down to South Australia for the competition from 9-11 December.
For a number of years, Erika has pushed herself to the limits to reach her running goals whilst completing her grade 9 studies.
At the recent North Queensland championships, the avid sprinter smashed the leader board, coming second in the 3000 metres with a time of 11:01.24 and third in her 1500 metre race with a time of 5:16 – both personal bests.
Track star Paige has been running for just as long as Erika, with the grade 10 student smashing personal bests in every single race she has done this year.
She competes against the Australian champion for middle distance in her aged group and constantly pushes herself to go further, faster.
At the State Track and Field championships, Paige finished ninth in the 3000 metres with a time of 10:47 and twelfth in the 1500 metre with a time of 4:56.
Bronte isn’t a stranger to representing Queensland, being selected for netball nationals earlier this year which she unfortunately could not at-tend due to Covid.
At the beginning of June this year, her 400 metre time was 1:07.34 but after competing at the State Titles in Brisbane last week, she walked away with second place and a time of 59:26.
She also competed at the North Queensland championships winning gold in the 400 metre and bronze in the long jump.
To top it off, Bronte has been selected into phase two of the Queensland Academy of Sport “You for 2032” talent search for the 2032 Olym-pics.
Training six days a week and working towards bringing their best athletic package to South Australia in December, these Malanda athletes are ready represent their small town with pride.
