Monique takes the hurdles in her stride
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Living at Jan Juc on the Surf Coast, 19-year-old hurdler Monique Booth belongs to the Geelong Athletics Club and makes the 50-kilometre return trip to Geelong for training six nights a week. The start of the athletics season this month means her schedule will change, to training five nights a week and competing on Saturdays. Monique completed year 12 last year and has taken a year off from study. She is working in two jobs and plans to go to university next year. Her events are sprints (100 and 200 metres) and hurdles. In 2004, Monique was national champion in the 200-metre hurdles and second in the 90-metre hurdles. In 2005, she ran for Victoria in the Pacific School Games. She has also competed in winning sprint relay teams at national championships. Monique’s goals for next year are to break 12 seconds for the 100 metres and to improve her hurdle times. She has been at the Barwon Sports Academy since the start of this year. She sees the benefits as having access to the Geelong Football Club gym and other facilities around Geelong, and the discounted physiotherapy services available through the academy. Athletes from different sports attend the academy’s strength and conditioning training together. They benefit from meeting other athletes and seeing how hard they work. Next year Monique can look forward to completing her Level 1 coaching qualification and Certificate II and IV in fitness, with support from the academy. With these qualifications, she will be well placed to visit schools and sporting clubs to run programs for younger athletes. |
