AFTER focusing on her running above other sports in 2022, the decision is already paying off with Poppy Austin, 18, finishing fourth at the Australian Cross Country National Championships in Adelaide last weekend.

Austin competed in the six-kilometre event, which included doing a loop three times, eventually finishing just off the podium in the Under-20 race on Saturday.

The local said she had no expectations, but gained plenty of confidence from the result.

“I didn’t actually expect too much, it was only my second competitive race,” she said.

“All the girls are very experienced, but I just went in determined to do my best and I pushed myself and I got a good result.

“It was very rewarding, it was a fair drive, but the family came along and supported me as well.

“At the start of the year when I started pursuing running, I just wanted to do well at school-based running and regionals.

“That is the dream (Olympics), it doesn’t feel real yet that I have pushed myself this far.”

After winning the short course Run for the Kids event in Melbourne in April, it has been a fruitful winter, despite the distance separating Austin and her coach.

“My trainer, Rod Griffin, is based in Ballarat,” she said.

“They have daily trainings, but I get my weekly program and I have to do it on my own.

“With Year 12, it has made it hard, but hopefully in the school holidays, I can get down there and do some track work.”

Favouring the longer distance races, Austin has also played netball for Harrow-Balmoral along with rowing, but a narrowing of her focus has helped her achieve some strong results this year.

“I have really only just picked up my running this year, I have dedicated myself to just running this year and I have done a few events which has got me to this point,” Austin said.

“I placed second in the Victorian team in the All-Schoolgirls championships, then placed fourth in the Australian Cross Country National Championships on Saturday.”

Saturday’s result has opened up other opportunities with Austin now planning for the world championship qualifiers in Canberra in June.

The 18-year-old said her training is focused around that with a top 10 finish the aim.

“I am looking to do another big run in Adelaide, the City-Bay run and will just do a lot of preparation in the meantime,” Austin said.

“The aim is to get into the top 10 and that should mean I get to go to the world championships.”