TRIAL IGNITES ATHLETE’S PASSION FOR SPORT
ORIENTEERING: Sometimes giving a sport a try works.
That’s the case with Alexandra Edwards and orienteering.
Trying it as part of PE at Fairholme College, the Year 6 student said she developed a passion for the sport.
That led to her joining a club, and just recently she picked up her biggest achievement to date.
The 12-year-old was rewarded with selection for the Queensland schools team after an exemplary showing.
She credits her experience early in school with helping her develop a passion for the sport, which also has a family connection.
“We did orienteering for PE in grades three and four, and I joined a club in grade five,” she said.
“I really liked it at school so I thought I’d give it a try and join a real club (Range Runners Orienteering Club).
“You get to travel to lots of different places and you can meet lots of great people. Stanthorpe is good because there’s lots of boulders.
“My dad does it too just for fun, but he always comes along and competes.
“For orienteering you do lots of events during the year that lead up to the championships.
“They look at the championships, but they also look at how you’ve gone throughout the year.
“I’ve done well throughout the year. I came in second in a sprint and bush event in Warwick,” she said.
“I finished the sprint in third (at the Queensland Schools Championships).”
Unfortunately for Edwards, a fall during her event left her unable to complete the course, with what turned out to be a fractured ankle.
It was then a moment from her fellow Fairholme teammate, reminiscent of the spirit you’d see at the Olympics, showed the bond between the friends.
“I was halfway through the bush event and I fell down a gully and I fractured my ankle,” she said.
“I thought it was fine and I was ready to keep going, but then it started to really hurt.
“I found Mali and she helped me back up to the track and we found one of my other friends who ran back to the assembly area where they could find the paramedics.”
In a stroke of good karma, Mali Brennan will also represent Queensland at the Australian Schools Championships in Tasmania in September.
While there is currently a cloud over the staging of the event due to Covid restrictions, Edwards said she is hopeful of the chance to represent her state.