Ruby among best in nation for beach sprint
Local Sports Stars nominee Ruby Thomasyu has a silver medal for national beach sprints in surf lifesaving and now she wants to go one better.
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An ability to run fast on sand has taken Randwick teenager Ruby Thomasyu to the top of her sport in Australia.
Ruby, who belongs to Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club, placed second in under-15 female beach sprint at the Australian Youth Surf Life Saving Championships on the Gold Coast in April, as well as second in the U15 female beach relay with Coogee teammates Elizabeth Tanner, Alexandra Davison and Rosa Griffith.
“It was really exciting. The year before I got third in the individual sprint and relay so to get second was really incredible,” the 14-year-old Brigidine College student said.
The silver medals were Ruby’s best results at national level. She also won silver in the beach sprint at the state titles and was Coogee SLSC’s cadet of the year for 2019.
Ruby is this week’s Junior Sports Star Individual nominee for the 2019 Local Sports Stars Awards.
She joined nippers at the age of five. “My mum and dad decided to take me down for the under 6s. When I did the running they found out I had speed on the sand.”
Starting competitions in U8s she has improved steadily over the years, under the guidance of nippers coach Renee Gibbs and current coach Michael Parsons. “I really look up to both of them,” Ruby said.
She also plays touch football for the Eastern Suburbs Roosters.
Ruby wants to win gold in the national beach sprint next season but knows it will be tough competing at U17 level. She will be 15 then.
Local Sports Stars Awards categories include individual, team of excellence, inspiration for athletes aged 18 and under, as well as service to sport.
Nominate a young sporting star now at localsportsstars.com.au/newslocal
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