Narre Warren young gun Sam Prime displays the spoils of a sensational winter of cross-country competition. 22092By Marc McGowan
NARRE Warren rising star Sam Prime capped a memorable cross-country season with a national title win in Geelong last month.
The 12-year-old Casey little athlete took out the under-13 girls’ 3km race at the School Sport Australia and Athletics Australia Cross-Country Championships.
The result bettered Sam’s fourth placing at last year’s event in Perth.
“It was unbelievable and I just couldn’t believe it – I felt happy and proud,” she said.
“I just thought I’d run my own race and see where it got me.”
Sam managed to turn the tables on her Victorian All-Schools Cross-Country Championships conqueror and good friend Liana Fitzpatrick, who finished sixth.
She and her Victorian under-13 team-mates, Liana, Courtney Scott, Grace Kalac, Mia Ross, Sarah Waters, Jmara Hockley-Samon, also won team gold.
Sam finished no worse than second in all Athletics Victoria events this season and entered the national championships extremely confident.
“It was just a great feeling to be in it again and to have another go,” the Year 7 Berwick Secondary College student said.
“It calmed down the nerves knowing that I was racing in my home state and because I’d been there before.”
Sam, who has run competitively since she was five, shadowed her major competitors for much of the race before rocketing into the lead and holding off three fast-finishing rivals.
Her mother, Karen, is full of pride at her daughter’s achievements.
“It’s been an amazing journey throughout the whole year and she has excelled in everything she’s put her heart into,” she said.
“They all get to an age where they’ve matured and they know what they want and go and get it.
“(Her father) Rod is the cross-country coordinator at Casey and I’m the one who cooked all the pasta for her!”
Sam trains at Casey and Knox – the latter under renowned distance coach Richard Huggins.
“I just put a lot of dedication into my running and take in stuff that people tell me,” she said.
“I have a lot of support from my family and generally believe in myself and try and do my best.
“My dad’s taught me how to run and how to use my technique well, and has always stuck by me through the tough times and given me motivational support.”
Sam dreams of one day following her idol Georgie Clarke onto the Australian athletics team.
“Running means a lot to me – and not only running, but all the friends you make out of it, too,” she said.
“It’s a great experience. The friends you make become your friends forever and you get to travel places – I love it.
“I just need to keep doing what I’m doing and see where it gets me down the track.”
Picture: Luke Plummer.
