HAMILTON’S Poppy Austin will represent South Australia at the 2023 Australian Cross Country Championships next month in Canberra after she took home first place in the 2023 State XC Championships in Adelaide on the weekend.

The 19-year-old said she had trained very hard in the lead up to the race, so it was pleasing to come away with a personal best result.

“I felt really strong out on the track, I managed to get a new 6km cross-country PB of 21.52 minutes coming first in the U20 women’s … I was extremely happy with the way I ran,” Austin told The Spectator.

“This was my second and final year competing in U20 Women’s State XC Championships, this year I am running under Athletics SA instead of Vic, so I was up against a new group of competitors.”

Austin brought home the gold medal with an impressive time and put her success down to her strong preparation.

The course threw lots of challenges at competitors with significant inclines and hills throughout, including some as steep as 60 metres.

“The state XC champs were held at Carisbrooke Park in Adelaide, it was a hilly 2km loop track with two 60 metre steep hills and a lot of undulation,” Austin said.

“(I knew) that I had done the work and was well prepared having trained on hills at home in the two weeks leading up to the race.

“I felt strong and still felt that I had plenty in the tank.”

Austin had a strong year in 2022 really taking her long distance running to the next level competing at the XC state championships and Australian championships – she just missed out on qualification to the world stage.

However, the exciting talent has the world championships set in her sights and is determined to put in another big performance next month at Canberra.

“Last year I competed in the U20 women’s Victorian state XC championships at Bundoora and placed second … (and) I placed fourth at the Australian XC champs at Oakbank,” Austin said.

“(I then) placed ninth at the Australian World Cross Country selection trials in Canberra missing out on a spot in the Australian team for the world XC champs by one place.”

The former Hamilton and Alexandra College student is looking to go as far as she can and the national championships in August is the next box to tick.

The teenager said she was coming into this year’s events with “a lot more preparation, experience and confidence”.

“Having run the Stromlo track in January this year, I know what to expect from the 6km course.

“Hopefully I will get a place once again which will then allow me to try out for the Australian team competing in Croatia next year at the World Cross Country Championships.”

“I will make sure I give it my all and leave nothing in the tank, if I could get a three-place finish and a PB, I would be pretty happy.”

Since making the move to Adelaide to study at university, Austin’s running has continued to improve in an elite training environment with Team Tempo.

“I started training with Team Tempo in Adelaide under coach, Adam Didyk and am loving being part of such a professional team of likeminded and highly motivated individuals,” she said.

“I feel very fortunate to be surrounded and mentored by some of Australia’s top athletes.”

As for her weekly running schedule and preparation for events, Austin covers some massive kilometres during a regular week.

Most AFL boundary umpires run about 40 kilometres per week, but Austin pushes up towards three figures on a weekly basis.

“I run six times a week averaging about 91 kilometres each week and have pretty much run every road and back laneway around the Roseworthy region,” she said.

“Generally, I have two sessions of sprint work, then three days of easy running and a long run of approximately 21 kilometres on Sunday with Team Tempo around Adelaide and surrounds.”

Austin is loving her time at university in Adelaide and is studying at Adelaide University and living on residence at its Roseworthy campus.

“I have the best of both worlds surrounded by animals on a 2500-acre farm with plenty of places to run and still close enough to train in Adelaide twice a week with Team Tempo.”