By Charlotte Robinson

15-year-old Queenslander Katrina Robinson will graduate from last year’s Zespri Junior Dash to take on some of Australia’s best female distance runners in this year’s Southern Cross University 10km Run this Saturday 2 July.

It will be the five-time Zespri Junior Dash winner and 2km race record holder’s first attempt at a 10km race as she lines up next to 2014 Commonwealth Games marathon representative Sarah Klein, 2016 Rio Olympic Games Australian triathlon representative Ashleigh Gentle and 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships Australian representative Gemma Maini.

“I’m excited to see what I can do but also a bit nervous,” Katrina said.

“This is one of my favourite events because there’s always an exciting atmosphere and fast runners to compete against.”

Katrina’s development as a runner started when she joined her Little Athletics club at the age of six and during the past nine years she has worked hard to become one of Australia’s most exciting junior athletes.

“Running appeared exciting and I was really enjoying participating in events, so I kept doing it and eventually started training more,” Katrina said.

“I’ve always been a competitive person. When I was 10, I set myself the goal of making it to the nationals for the first time.”

Earlier this year, Katrina showcased her talents on the world stage when she wore green and gold in her first international race at the 2016 World Schools Championship Cross Country in Budapest, Hungary. Despite being up against runners older than her, Katrina blitzed the field over 3.2km to win the race.

“Competing is mentally and physically tough, but you always feel so good when you finish a race because you know that all your hard work has paid off,” Katrina said.

The cross country champion manages to continue training amidst the demands of high school with a little help from her friends.

“I like to train outdoors. There is a park close to where I live which is where I do most of my runs. I also train at a grass oval with a group. I find it easier training with other people because they help push me along,” Katrina said.

“I train five days a week. My program involves a mixture of long runs and speed-based sessions. I am trying to slowly increase the number of kilometres that I run each week but I am careful not to increase it too drastically.

Not only is Katrina striving for success on the Gold Coast, she is aiming to qualify for the World Youth Athletics Championships in Kenya next year.

“I hope to qualify for the 3000m. I have already posted the required time, I just need to do it again during the qualifying period,” Katrina said.

Should Katrina defy the odds and win on Saturday, she will join Australian running legends Pat Carroll and Michael Shelley as the only athletes to snare six victories at a Gold Coast Airport Marathon event.

A statistic pointing towards a podium finish is one set by one of her competitors on Saturday in Ashleigh Gentle.

After winning the 4km Junior Dash in 2005, Ashleigh rose in distance to the 10km on the Gold Coast the following year and placed second.

After Saturday’s progression to 10km, Katrina has further distances in her sights.

“I am definitely going to continue with racing as I get older. My goal is to eventually run the full marathon – I’ve got a long way to go but with the right training I’ll get there!”

2016 Gold Coast Airport Marathon entries close Friday 1 July (8pm QLD).