Silver for Little Aths superstar

By Lachlan Ellis

A 10-year-old Rowsley girl has won silver in a national cross country event, representing the state as part of a six-person team.

Iyla Robinson was part of the Team Victoria 10yr Old Girls team at this year’s Australian Cross Country Championships, competing against teams from across the country, in a two-kilometre race in wet and windy conditions.

Taking place on Saturday 27 August at Oakbank Racecourse in South Australia, Team Victoria’s 10yr Old Girls finished second, with Iyla contributing with a time of 8:25 – 27th overall, out of 41 girls.

Proud mum Julie said it was exciting for Iyla and the team to win silver, but the event also fostered friendships between both teammates and competing state teams.

“It was great, we’re super proud of her. It was a really good weekend for all the girls, and Team Victoria in particular did really well. Three of the six girls in Iyla’s team finished top 10, and one won the race overall,” Ms Robinson told the Moorabool News.

“The event itself was great, it was organised well…they aren’t really pushing for ‘win win win’, it’s more about making friendships and getting to know other team members. Iyla made really great friends with her teammates, and kids in other teams. It was great to see the camaraderie of the sport, and the kids getting along regardless of where they were from.”

As for Iyla herself, who has been involved with Little Aths since she was five, the silver medal was definitely exciting to receive – but funnily enough, perhaps something else being exchanged at the event got a bit more attention.

“She’s very excited about the silver medal. They also do these little badges they collect from the other states – I think she was more excited about getting those actually,” Ms Robinson laughed.

“She wanted to take those to school, she was really excited about swapping those badges with the other states. But she was really excited to get that silver medal with her team too of course.”

Iyla took part not only on behalf of Victoria, but also her school, Bacchus Marsh Grammar.

“She was the only kid at her school that made it as far as she did, so she was really pleased with herself about that. She’s not really a braggy kid, but she’ll give anything a go,” Ms Robinson said.