By JARROD POTTER
NOT many Australians get a chance to take to the tracks in Canada – even fewer return home with a swag of medals.
Anna Macdonald, 17, from Berwick, took North America by storm last month, snaring wins in Kelowna and Vancouver racing in athletics meets.
She brought back gold medal in the 1500m in Kelowna, about 400km away from Vancouver, then headed to Vancouver itself and won two more events – the three-kilometre and the 1500m again.
“My first day I did an 800 and finished fifth in that – then on the Sunday I did a 1500 and won that one by four seconds, so that was good,” Macdonald said.
“Next day we took the bus to Vancouver and competition on the weekend – first I had the 3km and won that event, then the 1500 on Sunday and won that one again.”
It’s a great achievement in isolation, especially when considering Macdonald was a late convert to athletics/cross country only a few years ago.
She’ll hop another plane next month – heading to Launceston for the national cross-country championships on 31 August.
“Not really sure what to expect, but I guess I have to base it on people in my own team – I’d like to come around the middle of the race,” Macdonald said.
“Only started running in year 9, so I’m trying to catch up to them.”
A stellar athlete across all disciplines, Macdonald also plays for Berwick Youth Girls football club, hoping to go one step further than last year to claim a premiership.
“Started when I was old enough to play girls footy as I always wanted to play,” she said. “We made the grand final last year, we didn’t win but, hopefully, this year we can.”
Macdonald is also St Margarets School sports captain and received the Pierre de Coubertin Award this year – recognising students who demonstrate attributes consistent with the fundamental aims of the Olympic movement with a particular emphasis on participation and commendable sporting behaviour.
To cap off the success, Macdonald qualified for the cross-country nationals via her times at the Victorian All Schools Cross Country qualified her for nationals, so she will be competing for the Victorian team in Tasmania on 31 August.
