ATHLETICS: Former Inman Valley junior Pirrenee Steinert is off to Germany to run for Australia at this year’s World Championships after qualifying in the 4 x 400 metre relay team in Osaka, Japan, on Sunday.
Leading her team, consisting of Jody Henry, Tamsyn Lewis, and Madeleine Pape, off the blocks, Steinert set a blistering personal best time giving the quartet a 10 metre lead at the first changeover.
“I didn’t know what I was up against so I just went for it, I was lucky because my baton change to Madeleine Pape was horrible, we nearly dropped it,” Pirrenee said.
The Australian team easily beat the qualifying time by three seconds, stopping the watch at three minutes 28.97 seconds to finish ahead of China (3:32.00) and Japan (3:32.74) to book their place in Berlin this August.
After struggling with a foot stress fracture at the end of 2006, Pirrenee said World Championship selection makes the rehabilitation all worthwhile.
“I am grateful just to race and be out there again,” Pirrenee said.
Pirrenee and boyfriend, athlete Keith Sheehy, moved to Newcastle 18 months ago to train under new coach Tony Fairweather.
The move put the pair in a good position to compete with the nations best athletes on a regular basis and attract good sponsorship.
“I think Tony’s new ideas has helped me with my running,” Pirrenee said.
Steinert’s selection was the perfect Mothers Day gift for mum, Deborah.
“Mothers Day for me started with an early morning phone call from one very excited girl at the airport in Australia after her long flight back from Osaka saying ‘I'm going to Berlin mummy’”, Mrs Steinert said.
After moving to Inman Valley from Alice Springs in 1995, Mrs Steinert said Pirrenee and her twin sister, Sheena-Lauren, were always going to be athletes from a young age.
“When the girls were eight years old in Alice Springs at their school sports day they could outrun their teammates in half the time having only themselves to fight it out to the finish line,” she explained.
Pirrenee said she loves to get back home as often as possible.
“The hills around home a great training runs,” Pirrenee said.
“I remember racing my twin sister home from the bus stop everyday after school on the dirt track to our property.”
Steinert’s relay teammate, Tamsyn Lewis, said qualifying is a major achievment.
“The girls were just ecstatic, they ran so well, it was the perfect order," Lewis said.
“A lot of people have had doubts on the 4 x 400 metre girls, we haven't really been given an opportunity for a few years.
"To come over and do the time, and say pick us now, we can do it when it counts, is very exciting.”
Pirrenee will now concentrate on her preparation over the next six weeks before heading overseas to compete in the lead up to the August World Championship.
“I can’t wait, it’s really exciting,” Pirrenee said.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter