Record runner sets sights on nationals

Carlingford runner Emily Crawford has been a record-breaker since the beginning and has no plans of slowing down.

Athlete Emily Crawford is a Junior Sports Star nominee. Pictures: David Swift

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Carlingford runner Emily Crawford has been a record-breaker since the beginning and has no plans of slowing down.

Emily has been competing in the 100m sprint with NSW PSSA State Athletics for the past four years.

In her first year — 2013 — she broke the 8 Years Girls state record, which still stands at 14.45 seconds.

The following year the Junior Sports Star nominee was state champion again, and in 2015 she took part in the Australian All Schools National Championships for the first time where she finished with a gold and silver.

Emily Crawford, 12, at Cherrybrook.

At last year’s championships the 12-year-old won a bronze and a gold, and she has also won the NSW Little Athletics 100m State Final twice.

Emily started athletics when she was eight and she said she enjoys “the competition and challenge of trying to improve all the time in all the different events”.

Emily said her favourite event was the 100m “because it’s top speed all the way and over quickly”.

Emily trains two to three times per week at Greenway Park in Cherrybrook in rain, hail or shine.

“I love the feel(ing) of running fast,” she said. “And it keeps me really fit.

“I also love training and competing with other girls and friends.”

Outside of athletics, she also keeps fit by playing representative netball and touch football.

Emily hopes to make the state finals in October and the nationals in December, and one day represent her country.

Nominations close for the Local Sports Stars program on August 31.

To nominate, visit localsportsstars.com.au