By LIAM TWOMEY
AMY Cashin is preparing herself to take on the world.
After an outstanding performance at the World Cross Country Selection Trials last month, Cashin has been selected to represent Australia at the World Junior Championships in Poland.
What makes her achievement even more remarkable is that the Werribee resident was unable to train at 100 per cent in the lead-up to the event because of a rib injury.
The 18-year-old said she even considered not entering the qualifying race in Canberra.
“I had two out of place ribs for a month and a bit so my training was lowered and I didn’t run very well at one of the races leading up,” she said.
“I wasn’t going to enter but I went up to Falls Creek and I did my training and I was running well. The Athletics Australia coach told me to enter but not to expect to make the team.
“I went over there just with the hope of running a good time.
“When I found out I had made it I was absolutely shocked. It was a great feeling.”
Cashin posted a time of 21 minutes over the 6km course, which is almost a full three minutes better than her previous performance on the same course two years earlier.
Her latest achievement adds to a growing list of outstanding cross-country results for the rising star, who is a regular fixture at state and national competition.
However, this will be the first time the Werribee Secondary College student will compete overseas.
With the championships scheduled for the end of March, Cashin is preparing to balance her preparation in the lead up to pulling on the green and gold.
“It is the middle of the track and field season at the moment but on the other side of the world it is their cross country season,” Cashin said.
“That means I will have to try and balance the two. I won’t have any cross country races leading up to it and the track and field are the only ones I have to prepare myself.
“The Victorian Championships for track and field are coming up so I might do one of them.”
