College Sport: Young runner strides out on fast track to success

Audrey Gregan will take up a running scholarship in the United States next year.

Even as an 11-year-old with no training, runner Audrey Gregan was so far ahead of the bunch she was in a race of her own.

It didn't take long for her potential to be recognised by St Cuthbert's College running coach Marianne Duston, who invited Gregan to join the senior squad.

But it wasn't until 2010, when she won the New Zealand Secondary Schools junior cross-country by 35 seconds, that Gregan became really serious about running.

"Since then, the sport has become my priority," she says.

Now in her final year at school, Gregan has accepted a four-year cross-country and track and field scholarship to Providence College in Rhode Island, which has the top cross-country team in the USA.

She will join this team in September next year, and will study a liberal arts degree majoring in history.

"Competition there is a lot more intense and the racing is very high level so that's the main reason I've decided to study there," Gregan said.

Her season this year has been successful considering a hip injury stopped her competing in many track and field events. With only three weeks to train after her recovery, she was second in the New Zealand Schools cross-country, only four seconds behind the winner.

This result ensured her a place as captain of the New Zealand Schools team. She was third in the Australian Schools cross-country championships and fourth in the Australian U20 cross-country championships.

She skipped her Year 13 school ball to compete in the NZ Athletics cross-country championships in Christchurch and came third in the U20 6km race.

"It is amazing that she has been able to produce such top performances with the little running training we have been able to do," said Duston.

"But the pools of sweat as she cycles on her wind trainer at the gym are a testimony to her dedication and determination to succeed even when the odds are stacked against her. She has shown courage and perseverance over the past 12 months and has never lost her hope or determination.

"She has the rare ability to rise to the occasion during her racing, keeping a calm mindset and focus no matter what she has been facing."

Gregan is a distance running finalist for the ASB Young Sportsperson of the Year awards. She won last year's award in her category.

St Cuthbert's has a long history of producing strong distance runners and cross-country teams.

This year the senior cross-country team won the three and six-person events at the national schools' championship. And the school has a strong bunch of Year 9 girls to ensure its success will continue.

3 big 2014 wins for Gregan
• Auckland SS 3000m
• North Harbour U20 cross-country
• Auckland SS team cross-country