Montanna in hot form for her first world titles


Ipswich and District Athletic Club runner Montanna McAvoy.

 

FINLAND-bound Montanna McAvoy hasn’t let the cooler conditions hamper her training for next month’s World Under-20 Championships.

However, she hopes the weather in her lead-up meet in Germany is a lot warmer than recent weeks around South East Queensland.

The Ipswich and District Athletics Club competitor is heading to Frankfurt on Wednesday for valuable competition before lining up in her first world under-20 titles starting July 10.

She hopes to contest the 1500m and possibly a 3km or 5km event in Germany before focusing on the 3km steeplechase at the world championships.

“I’m excited,” McAvoy said, boosted by her preparation.

McAvoy, 17, set two personal bests winning her events at the recent North Queensland Student Games in Townsville.

She ran a pleasing 10:03.80 in the 3km steeplechase and reduced her 1500m PB by 0.3 seconds in another sign everything is on track for a strong performance overseas.

The Student Games in warmer conditions were beneficial for Australian team competitors like McAvoy.

“Germany is pretty hot at the moment,” she said, also expecting pleasant conditions in Finland.

The former Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School student is in her first year undertaking a double degree at QUT.  She’s studying business and media/communications.

However, she has maintained a strong focus on her athletics in recent weeks after qualifying for her second Australian team.

She also represented her country at last year’s Commonwealth Youth Games in The Bahamas, where she came fifth in the 3km.

Having learnt from that experience, she expects another tactical battle from her opponents in Finland.