SOUTH Coast Athletics’ Laura Tomic broke the Victorian record for the 2000m steeplechase at the Victorian Masters Championships over the weekend.
The Ventnor-based athlete had aimed to break the record in the 40-45 age group and successfully reached her goal by five seconds in Doncaster.
Her official time and the new state record is 7:19:77.
Laura has been running with South Coast Athletics for the last two years, inspired to get back into competing as her children took part in little athletics.
“I was always running around, chasing after them around the track. One of the mums was from South Coast and encouraged me to join,” Laura said.
“I’ve been running since I was a kid, but I hadn’t competed in a long time, and I really got back into it.
“I stopped (athletics) when I was a kid due to a serious injury, and then life happened, but I never stopped running. It’s awesome to be back and I’ll probably run for the rest of my life.”
Laura started her career as a six-year-old running for Ringwood in the little athletics.
She now competes in the Masters and has enjoyed every moment.
Laura said the 2000 metres steeplechase was her favourite event and breaking the Victorian record had been her ultimate goal.
“I really want to get that Victorian record,” Laura had told The Sentinel-Times prior to the weekend.
“I’m ranked fifth in the world for the steeplechase in the 40-45 age bracket. My future goal would be to be number one.”
Up until this weekend, her best performance had been at Nationals in Tasmania last year, when she was five seconds off the record.
To be competition-ready, Laura trains six days a week.
She does two interval sessions, a long run and three easy runs.
Her training venue of choice is the Bass Recreation Reserve and the Bass Coast Rail Trail.
“I’ve always been very focused – you have to have a love for it,” she said.
“Training can be hard by yourself, but you just have to keep going.”
Laura is also coached online by James Hansen through an app.
She attends as many South Coast meets in Leongatha as possible, which has become a great family event.
“The kids love watching me and they love competing in the local meets,” Laura said.
“For me, it is a massive stress relief. I’m so incredibly busy, but I love the feeling of being fit. It makes me happy.
“I’ve also met the most amazing friends in the whole world through athletics. They are just awesome people, and South Coast is such a friendly club.”
Laura is now looking forward to cross-country season.
Most recently, she competed in the Pan Pacific Masters Games Tour on the Gold Coast in November.
“That was awesome. That’s on every two years and was a really good experience. I won all five of my events,” she said.
“It was disgustingly hot, and the long-distance runs started at 6am, but it was incredible.”
Laura actively encourages people to get involved in athletics.
For more information and updates about South Coast Athletics, head to the club’s Facebook page.
