With her sights firmly set on a future Olympics selection, Sienna Pitcher of Terrigal continues to make great strides in the competitive field of race walking.
Most recently, the 14-year-old athlete took out first place in the U16 5km event at the Australian Winter Walking Championships, held in Melbourne and winding up on September 11.
“We were lucky with the weather – it was quite sunny and not too windy,” Sienna said.
“I have done quite a few 5km races, but I was really pleased to record a personal best of 24.41 minutes.
“I was definitely striving for the gold, so it was an amazing feeling to win.”
Although Sienna was competing as a single, she was pleased that the team of NSW athletes finished at the top of the competition.
She followed up with an impressive second placing in the U16 3km event at the NSW All Schools Championships on September 27 at Sydney Olympic Park, competing for Terrigal High School.
While the gold wasn’t hers on that occasion, she was thrilled to qualify for the National All Schools Championships, to be held in Adelaide in December.
“I’m excited to race in Adelaide,” she said.
“I have been there before but never competed.”
While she is most comfortable on her home grounds in Sydney, Sienna said tracks countrywide were fairly standard.
She is now training for the official track season, which runs from October through to March next year and is hoping her times at the various events throughout the season will see her make the Nationals.
Sienna trains five days a week with Frank Overton at Fosford’s Adcock Park.
“It’s a lot of training but you have to train if you want to be the best,” she said.
“The training varies – I could be on a treadmill or outside running or biking.”
Sienna hopes to compete in the Junior World Championships in two years and then the World Championships, with selection for the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics her ultimate goal.
Terry Collins