Hayley Kitching, Isabella and Jasmin Guthrie at 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships
Three Coffs Harbour girls are on top of the world after taking on some of the finest young athletes on the planet in Colombia. But the media glare came as a shock.
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A trio of runners from Coffs Harbour have repped the green and gold of Australia in Colombia at the U20 World Athletic Championships.
Hayley Kitching, who ran the race of her life, made it to the 800m finals, placing seventh with an impressive 2:02.12, a 1.75 second personal best.
That time ranks her as the seventh fastest Aussie junior of all time over the 800.
“It couldn’t have gone better, I’m stoked,” Hayley said.
Reaching new heights, Hayley credits her dad and coach Tim, reckoning they’ve created the “perfect formula”.
“We have a perfect training bloc so that every time I go through a new training cycle I know I’m going to be hitting PBs,” she said.
The Coffs Coast Advocate recently spoke to the Kitching family about their combined success.
The youngster said Colombia’s buzzing vibe helped reach a new level.
“It’s a different experience: you walk in and the atmosphere is amazing,” she said.
Hayley describes hearing booming roars from crowds with flags representing countries all over the world.
“Racing - with the sound of fans - against the best young athletes in the world definitely pushed my personal best,” she said.
“Knowing I’m capable of making it to a world final and mixing with the best definitely gives me confidence.”
Her main takeaway was to have self-belief, and never daunted by her competition.
“I’m more confident in leading from the front now. I know I’m strong enough to run with anyone,” she said.
Hayley said her mother was in tears over the phone to hear her daughter had made the final: and it will unlikely be the last time her successes draw such emotion, with plans to head to Penn State next year on a scholarship.
Twin team
Jasmin and Isabella Guthrie, 18, are a power duo to be reckoned with.
The twins spent their early years in Coffs Harbour and have several family members cheering them from the coast.
Running together in the 400m relay, they were part of an impressive sixth place result. Their program included some individual events.
The duo’s debut at the world stage, Jasmin said the electric atmosphere was “surreal”.
“My semi-final was delayed, so we raced at night-time, which made it a really unique atmosphere,” Jasmin said.
She notched a 400m PB with a speedy 53.56 and said her family from Sydney and Coffs Harbour were cheering them on in the middle of the night.
Admired by locals, the twins needed police protection around the town of Cali as it was deemed too dangerous to be alone.
“They loved us because we were twins but we couldn’t see much of the city,” Isabella said.
Their close bond allows them to encourage and motivate each other: though they are constantly trying to out-do one another.
“We get compared a lot but we both want to excel and push each other to be better,” Isabella said.
Jasmin said the experience provided an insight to controlling nerves and composure.
In an individual event, Isabella stumbled on her second last hurdle as she was leading, but said the experience was nonetheless a huge plus.
“I could see the end and saw no one was beside me, but after I stumbled, I was just in shock,” she said.
“I think nerves played a part but it was the fastest I’ve ever run.”
The twins – best friends, who now reside together in Sydney – said the booming crowds and media attention was eye-opening.
“They had cameras right on us, we didn’t really know what to do,” Isabella said.
“We felt awkward, we were pretty taken aback by it.”
The exciting young duo may soon become familiar with media attention as they continue to rise up the ranks.
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