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BIOGRAPHY |
In January one of Australia’s leading emerging juniors for the last few years, Brisbane’s Gabrielle Schmidt placed an automatic qualifying position of second in the U20 6km event at the Australian team trials for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships. The performance earned her a rare opportunity to represent Australia on home soil in Bathurst in February – which follows a similar rare opportunity her coach also achieved when she competed for Australia at the IAAF/World Athletics Women’s Road Running Championship in Adelaide in 1988.
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Gabrielle Schmidt’s introduction to running reveals a changing pathway option for athletes starting in the sport – parkrun.
“The first time I ever raced was in my grade 4 school cross country and I shocked my teacher with my natural talent, and he encouraged me to start running. I started running at my local Ipswich parkrun and really enjoyed the friendly running atmosphere.”
She found a coach shortly after and success was instant.
“I started training with a running coach, who is still my current coach (Kerry Schreiber) when I was 10 and began to compete in inter school competitions. It was a huge surprise to come second at my first cross country nationals in Canberra after only running seriously for a few months. This gave me the confidence and motivation to keep running. From there I have attended every national cross country and athletics competition.
In 2018, aged 12, Gabrielle set the Augustine Heights parkrun record of 19:06, which nearly five years later still stands.
Aged 13, she won the Australian All Schools U14 1500m in the dazzling time of 4:33.72. By the end of the pandemic effected years, in late 2021, now aged 15, Gabrielle was showing impressive form over the longer distances, setting PBs of 9:53 (3000m) and 16:57 (5000m).
In 2022, she set four 3000m PBs, landing at 9:24 in December when she placed second in the Zatopek U20 race. The performance set her up for a great result at the Australian team trials for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships as she placed second in the under-20 6km.
Gabrielle was selected to make her Australian debut, and a rare opportunity to compete in the green and gold on home soil. She follows her coach Kerry Schreiber (nee Jukes) who also had this rare opportunity representing Australia at the Women’s World Road Running Championships in Adelaide in 1988. As an athlete, Kerry won National championship medals on the road, on the track and over cross country.
Most influential person in your career: My running coach (Kerry Schreiber – nee Jukes) who has supported me through the good days and bad of running. As an ex professional athlete herself she understands how I feel and helps me through the challenges and new experiences with my running. I will be forever grateful for all the time, effort and energy Kerry Schreiber has put into me…Advice to your young self?: Not to get worried and concerned when I don’t perform the way I hoped. I would make sure to not over think the little bumps I faced along my running journey…Hobbies: socialising, the beach and puzzles…Occupation: Year 12 student at St Peters Lutheran College – Indooroopilly… Biggest challenge you've faced: COVID – I struggled training on my own as my biggest motivation to train is to see my friends…Famous relative: distant relative of cricketer Donald Bradman.
@ 7 Feb 2023 David.Tarbotton@athletics.org.au