Meet the 16-year-old sprint sensation fast tracking her dream to Comm Games stage
This Gold Coast teen has her sights set on donning the green and gold at a Commonwealth Games, and that dream is now one step closer to becoming a reality after booking her maiden ticket to the World Championships in August. Read her story:
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Sixteen-year-old Thewbelle Philp has her sights set on donning the green and gold on a Commonwealth Games stage, and that dream is now one step closer to becoming a reality.
The teen sprint sensation has booked her ticket to the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championship in Lima, Peru this August after a stunning performance at the National Championships.
“Making my first Australian team is so exciting and I’m keen to go on the trip,” Philp said.
“It’s also very nerve racking because it puts into reality how close I am to achieving my dream of representing Australia.
With a personal best 100m time of 11.51 seconds, Philp secured her spot on the star-studded relay team - one of six including world record holder Torrie Lewis.
“This is the first chance I’ve had to make the team so I’m just really happy to be selected.
“It surprised me.”
Her dream was sparked at a primary school athletics carnival where she took even herself by surprise.
“I looked back at the videos thought ‘hey that’s actually me.’
“I realised I was kind of quick so started training and then it was always my dream to represent Australia in the Commonwealth Games.
She joined Ignition Run Club in 2021, training under Leanne Hine Smith, and hasn’t looked back.
“She’s there right before a race and right after a race,” Philp said.
“(She’s) definitely one of my biggest supporters and a very big part of me and my running.
“And my run club... because they’re in the sport with me so they understand it the most.
“They help and encourage me.”
Philp is the youngest in the team, which in her mind, is an advantage.
“It’s good because I’m 16 now and will have another chance when I’m 18,” she said.
“All the girls are older and take such good care of me.
“I’m around people who do have the experience which makes me feels so much more comfortable.”
Philp admitted not every race goes to plan, and when it doesn’t, the pressure can sometimes feel too much.
“The last race I didn’t feel good about was last year’s school sport state champs,” she said.
“I don’t really like having the pressure or expectation on me.
“If I don’t run to people’s standards then it definitely makes me feel down.”
The Palm Beach Currumbin year 11 student is in the midst of juggling school, work and training.
With four weekly track session top of her school’s sporting excellence program, Philp finds time to cover two shifts a week at the local supermarket.
“Trying to manage it all is difficult.
“It’s a big learning process and I’m still experiencing so many new things.”
Sometimes the go go go calls for down time.
“I like to journal a lot... I do every day,” she said.
“I’m always writing notes and schedules to try and organise myself otherwise it gets too full on and I don’t know what I’m doing.”
View Philp’s GoFundMe here.
Originally published as Meet the 16-year-old sprint sensation fast tracking her dream to Comm Games stage
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