Oar-some effort by young rower
FOR local rower Meaghan Field, 17, the average school day is a bit different from many of her peers.
Awake at 5.30am, she heads to the Barwon River for a two-hour training session. The Year 12 student then catches a bus to Kardinia International College.
Three days a week, she returns to the river for an afternoon training session. Weekends are spent racing, or in the absence of any races she’ll do a bit of training. “I do get Fridays off, though,” she laughed. On Tuesday, Field competed in the 2000m single scull event at the Sydney International Rowing Regatta.
Although a sixth-place finish wasn’t enough to get her into the final, Field smashed her personal best time by three seconds and says she’s more motivated than ever. “It’s really rewarding ... I want to take my rowing as far as I can,” she said.
The Barwon Rowing Club (BRC) member has a holistic approach to her training and regularly visits a sports psychologist to give her a mental edge. “Having that extra support in mental toughness helps me bounce back and stay motivated,” she explained.
After consulting with a dietitian, Field modified her diet and now eats around eight times per day — necessary to keep up with the demands of her busy training schedule and schoolwork.
She has her sights set on representing Australia on the international stage, and BRC president Laura Green says Meaghan has what it takes. “We fully back Meaghan ... she has the attitude and grit to go far,” Green said.