On the run: Mandessah Wyatt competing in Las Vegas.
From running for fitness to finishing on the podium in the United States, Seymour runner Mandessah Wyatt is hitting full stride.
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Wyatt travelled to Las Vegas with Sports Travels Australia, where she competed in several 5km races.
Wyatt’s suitcase was slightly heavier on the way home, with two medals and a trophy to show for her efforts.
The 16-year-old puts her success down to her training with Kelvin Lubeck, one of the best running coaches in the region.
Wyatt says Lubeck’s training made the difference.
“It (the training) was awesome. It was hard, but it was good,” Wyatt said.
“So I just want to say a massive thank you to Kelvin Lubeck.
“I kind of did it (running) last year, just like keeping fit because my friends were doing it, and then, once their athletics thing ended, I talked to Kelvin, and he said we can work on it for five k (kilometre) running.
“So yeah, he was training me for a few months.”
Winners are grinners: Mandessah Wyatt with the trophy won by the Australian team.
While the competition was fierce, Wyatt says the events were designed to help athletes develop.
“We were training every day and getting notes on how we can benefit ourselves,” she said.
“We would train, and then we would go compete, and then we keep training.
“We went there to race, but we went there to learn new things and become better.
“I think it was like a real eye-opener. Not many people get to experience it, like getting to go overseas with just athletes and running.
“At the races in Australia, there would maybe be, like, 90 people, but this was crazy, like 180-plus.
“It was crazy to get everyone around you, warming up with your team and all that.”
On track: Wyatt with her second place medal.
While Wyatt has not been competing for long, she made an impact in the US.
In the four races she ran, Wyatt placed eighth in the first solo race, and her relay team fished fourth in the next run.
Wyatt finished on the podium in the last two races, claiming second in both.
The Australian team also won the overall trophy in the last of the four races.
The Seymour local also returns to Australia with memories she will never forget and a drive to run even faster.
“I didn’t know anyone or didn’t go with any family or anything, but because we were all kind of in the same boat, we all do the same sport, it was easy to talk and find out stuff,” Wyatt said.
“We got to do some sightseeing, like seeing the Grand Canyon.
“I just want to keep running because I was only just doing school cross country and just training for it.
“I think I’ll just keep running and just see where it takes me.”
Wyatt’s trip to Las Vegas would not have been possible without the support of Body Tech Smash Repairs, Chuck E Electrical, Neil Beer, Merritt Building, Collingrove Stud, Seymour Tyrepower, Turosi Food Solutions Group, Lions Club Seymour Goulburn and Seymour Toyota.
Wyatt would also like to thank her pop, mum and dad for always being her biggest supporters.
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