Wangaratta athlete Lara Pearson is gearing up to take part in the 2025 Virtus World Athletics Championships in Brisbane this October.
The Wangaratta District Specialist School student, who will compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and long jump at the 8 to 15 October event, will have a familiar face on the sidelines, with WDSS physical education teacher Rowan Barrow taking on the role of Australian team manager.
Lara was nominated and selected for the national team based on her performances over the last 12 months, which included personal bests recorded at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships held in Perth in April.
In only her first athletics season as a para athlete, Lara also competed in Adelaide at the Australian Little Athletics Championships earlier this year.
Now training three times a week with a squad at Albury Athletic Club under the guidance of Jason Anderson and Bernie Cannan, Lara competed at both interstate events as a T20 (intellectual disability) athlete.
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In Perth, she finished first in the 100m and 200m, with personal bests in both races, third with a PB in both the 400m and 800m, fourth with a PB in the 1500m, and fifth with a PB in long jump.
In Adelaide she was first in the 100m, achieving a meet record, first in the 200m, first in the 400m also with a meet record, second in the 800m, and first in both the long jump (meet record) and discus.
Now she's set to compete in the junior section of the team at the Virtus World Athletics Championships, which is a world para athletics-sanctioned championships, alongside a team which includes previous Paralympians like Telaya Blacksmith.
"Telaya made the 400m final at the Paris Games. These are people at the top of their game, many of them with a chance to compete at the next Paralympics," Rowan said.
More than 300 participants from at least 30 countries are expected to take part in a track and field event which showcases the sporting excellence of elite athletes with an intellectual impairment.
Lara has thoroughly enjoyed the progress of her athletics career, and is looking forward to the next challenge.
"I'm loving it. I love all the people I meet, at training and around events," she said.
"And I love competing; I'm a very competitive person, so I love running."
Aside from mixing with her teammates, Lara hopes to record some more PBs in Brisbane, and particularly to improve her 100m time.
Rowan said she was excited about her team manager's role, which will see her in charge of a 48-member team with an age span from 15 years to 30-something.
"This is my first time in the role, so both Lara and I are debuting at an international competition," she said.
"I'm just so proud to be there and to see Lara compete, let alone being asked to take on this role.
"She just has such raw talent, and it will be wonderful to see her take part."
As well as her supportive family, Lara has the backing of her community, with generous donations forthcoming from a number of local businesses and individuals, and the Lions Club of Wangaratta providing $2000 towards her $4000 competition fee.
Lara's mum, Jaya, said the family was grateful for the local support.
She said she had no doubt that her daughter would make it to the Paralympics one day, considering her dedication to athletics.
Rowan agreed: "This is just the start for Lara."
