Notre student competes in athletics meets in Canada
By Aaron Cordy
NOTRE Dame College (NDC) year 11 student, Annabelle Novac, has showcased her amazing sporting prowess on the world stage by competing in two hurdle and sprint events in Canada.
The 16-year-old local was part of a 92-person squad made up of 13 to 17-year-olds from across the country to spend 19 days in Canada and the USA, competing in the Jack Brow Memorial Meet in Kelowna and the Trevor Craven Memorial Meet in Vancouver.
Annabelle competed in several events across the two meets. She came third in the 100m hurdles in Kelowna. In Vancouver, she came third in the 200m hurdles and an impressive first place in the 100m hurdles final.
“I didn’t think I was gonna go that well. It was interesting to see where I was placed. I didn’t quite get the time I was hoping for, but still got a good result,” said the humble Annabelle.
“I was so nervous. I kind of get it from gymnastics, before you go [race], I like to zone in and don’t talk to anyone. It was really good to be able to compete somewhere else and be able to see where I would stand. In Shepparton, we don’t have that many athletes, so I don’t really know where I’m at, but it was good to see where I was with other people and how I can get better.
The opportunity to compete in Canada came about after Annabelle won a state championship at last year’s school sports for NDC, bringing her to the attention of Sports Travel Australia who invited Annabelle to compete in Canada.
An enthusiastic gymnast in primary school, it wasn’t until Year 7 that Annabelle joined little athletics and realised that she had a passion for the sport. Then she joined NDC’s Sports Academy and began dominating at the NDC Athletics Carnivals, winning the Age Group Champion every year since Year 7. She has won multiple events at the Goulburn Murray District and Hume Region Inter-School Athletics Carnivals over the years and competed at the State Athletics Championships. This year, she broke the NDC 100m & 200m 17-20yo female records.
“Because I did gymnastics, mum knew that I was kind of strong and could do stuff. I was kind of just like average, but then I just got stronger, and I kept trying, and I did Sports Academy here at Notre, and that helped me get stronger. Then I ended up quitting gymnastics and pursuing athletics,” said Annabelle.
While pursuing a career beyond school in radiology, Annabelle will continue with NDC’s Sports Academy and Shepparton Little Athletics. In October she will train with Kelfit un the guidance of Kelvin Lubeck in Seymore.
“I’ll just keep training and seeing where I can go with it,” said Annabelle.
