Yaz, 17 is in Year 12 at Rochester Secondary College. Until 3 weeks ago Yaz’s year was mapped out. A week for her (& her mum) involved 4 or 5 trips to Bendigo for training, along with school and being focussed on her study. Numerous running events were scheduled in her calendar, now these are mostly cancelled. School is also changed and is filled with uncertainty.
Like us all Yaz is adapting to change and accepting her plans to compete in the U 20’s 2020 National Cross Country in Sydney, State Cross Country and various road races are now all unlikely. Jaz is taking the positives and reflects that the extra time will increase her chances of qualifying for the Worlds in 2021.
Not deterred Yaz is following her coach’s plan and is training in Elmore where she lives. With extra time on her hands, she is doing other things she loves, including cooking and cleaning!
Yaz is the youngest of 4 children. He eldest sister Teleah, 22, also loves to run and has been her running role model. Now Teleah has returned home due to COVID-19 so the sisters are enjoying running together.
Life hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Yaz. When she was 13 her health declined. She lost a significant amount of weight and was experiencing chronic exhaustion, which created many issues. Sometimes she’d be part way through a race and her legs would go purple and completely numb. After many tests and investigations Yaz was diagnosed with Coeliac disease. Over the following year she slowly regained weight and her energy returned.
This experience along with her love of running has possibly shaped Yaz’s future career goals which at this stage she thinks will be in health. While the uni entry process for 2021 is now unclear Yaz intends to keep studying. She also hopes to be competing at Bathurst, in the 2021 Worlds Cross Country event.
Yaz has an impressive collection of running achievements including the 2018 Athletics Victoria Under 18 Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year. Her favourite distance is 3kms, with a PB of 9 mins 48secs. Her 5km PB is an impressive 17:30. Yaz also enjoys parkrun, particularly Echuca’s fast and flat course, where she holds her parkrun PB of 18:04.
Yaz loves the competitive nature of running and being outside, chasing her own goals. Her focus at the moment is to continue racing and to do lots of study. When she needs a break from these activities Yaz will most likely be baking! Right now there’s still a glimmer of hope that Yaz will be able to compete in her final school track and field event at the end of the year.
Congratulations Yaz on having such a positive approach to life and the challenges of the current time.
