Quirindi High School’s Lacie Quigley is back doing what she loves after injury saw her sidelined for several months.
During the school holidays, Quigley competed in the Athletics New South Wales Short Course Championships at Dapto in the four-kilometre race.
The race saw 15, 16, 17 and 18 year girls all run together with Quigley winning the 15 years and placing fifth overall across the four ages.
The Year 9 student also competed at Ourimbah – at the NSW State Road Relay Championships last weekend – in the under 16 age group as part of a Newcastle relay team with fellow state and national runners from Macquarie Hunter Athletics.
Each girl ran a two-kilometre leg. Quigley had the fastest time across her group to help the team take out the gold medal for the event.
“Lacie was told earlier in the year she possibly wouldn’t run to her full potential this year due to tearing three ligaments in her ankle, but being the person she is, this only made her more determined and focused to make sure she did everything possible to get her recovery right and back doing what she loves as soon as she could,” said Lacie’s mother Megan.
The humble athlete will be competing at NSW All Schools Cross Country at Eastern Creek today in the 14 years four-kilometre girls race and representing the North West Region. Lacie is hoping to qualify for nationals to be held on the Sunshine Coast in late August.
“I have to be in the top eight fastest times across the two age groups of 14 and 15 years girls to make it through to the next level on Friday. I’m just going to take it as it comes and try not to put too much pressure on myself,” said Lacie.
Lacie will also represent Quirindi High School at the Regional Athletics Carnival at Tamworth in early August.
