Amy puts her best foot forward

By Glen Atwell
UNLIKE many of her fellow athletes, Amy Burren is walking, not running, towards international sporting success.
The 11-year-old from Narre Warren Little Athletics Club won gold in the 1500-metre walk event at the recent Pacific School Games in Melbourne, and is striding toward more medals.
Competing regularly at the Dandenong Little Athletics Centre, Burren trained for two months leading up to the event and said she was thrilled to win gold.
“I finished in seven minutes and 39 seconds, a couple of seconds outside my personal best,” Burren said.
It was fast-footed victory, with second-placed Emma Bettiol finishing 34 seconds behind Burren, who led the field for the entire journey.
Burren is a grade five student at St Mark’s Catholic Primary School in Dingley and qualified for the event after regional try-outs.
“We had to walk within a qualifying time and I got in fairly easily,” she said.
Walking towards the gold prize is nothing unusual for the pocket-rocket, and Burren has collected several medals and trophies since beginning the hip-swinging event.
“I won the under nine, under 10 and under 11 state walking events through my Little Athletics club,” Burren said.
Burren took to the sport following in the footsteps of her mother, Joanne, who was a champion walker in her junior years.
“Mum won state gold when she used to walk, and the sport is also fun.
“You don’t get many injuries, which is good,” Burren said.
The athletic talent also has her eyes set on larger, international scale events.
“I’d love to compete in the Commonwealth Games or Olympic Games one day,” Burren said. “That would be the ultimate achievement.”