Pembroke race-walker Olivia Sandery set to blaze the track in Oman

A SA teenage race-walker will hit the track on the world stage next week after being selected for the national team.

A teenage race-walker out of the Pembroke Athletics Club will make her national team debut on the world stage next week.

Olivia Sandery, 19, was selected for the Australian team which will compete in the team world championships in Oman next Friday.

The young gun athlete caught the eye of team selectors and was one of three race walkers under the age of 20 to be picked.

“It’s very exciting when I got the call from Athletics Australia to say I’d been selected,” Sandery said.

“It will be my first international competition so I’m looking forward to the experience.”

Star South Aussie race-walker Olivia Sandery will put her best foot forward at the team world championships next Friday when she represents Australia in Oman. Picture: Athletics SA

Sandery was in strong form heading into the national team trials, having won the U20 10km race at the Australian track and field championships in 2021.

She said she had improved drastically through her work under coaches Bob Cruise and former Olympic gold medallist Jared Tallent.

“Both Bob and Jared are really experienced and have some great programs for me,” Sandery said.

“I’ve really worked on improving my distance and I’ve been super consistent with my training, and fitting more training in.

“I’ve also had the opportunity to go on training camps with other experienced walkers from around the country and I’ve learnt a lot from that.”

Sandery (middle) has been on a dominant stretch through 2021 and now 2022 and is looking to continue this momentum in Oman. Picture: Athletics Australia

The terrain will be significantly different in Oman compared to Australia, with the Australian team expecting a hilly course.

Sandery said she had been preparing for the conditions and was confident she could adjust.

“We’ve been doing some training in the hills and we’ve been making sure to get sessions in the heat in too because it’s going to be hot over there,” she said.

“I just want to do as best I can and hang in there as long as I can.

“It’s going to be my first championship style race at this level with a big field so I want to give it my all.”

Sandery is hoping a strong performance in the championships can set her up for the world U20 championships and maybe even catapult her toward a 2024 Olympics push.

She will leave for Oman on Monday.