Out of 9,700 participants from 564 schools across Western Australia, year 7 Southern River College student Sophie McLeod has been crowned High School Champion in the 2024 Education Minister’s Running Challenge.
Averaging just over 5 kilometres a day, Sophie covered an impressive 302.6 kilometres in just two months.
Sophie said she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face when she was named the winner at a special presentation ceremony held at Parliament House last week.
“I was also almost scared when they called my name; out of the 9767 kids participating, I did not expect to be the winner,” she said.
Now in its second year, the Education Minister’s Running Challenge is an initiative aimed at encouraging students to engage in regular physical activity and adopt a healthy, active lifestyle to enhance their learning.
Sophie said she used her smartwatch to track her running and walking and that her friend was a massive motivation throughout the challenge, along with playing cricket and attending gymnastics classes.
“I would run a couple of laps on the oval each day, and naturally, I am very athletic, doing two sports and pacing a lot. The most important thing was to remember to log it in each day, though,” she said.
“One of my old classmates was extremely competitive with me. This really pushed me to be a better athlete, and honestly, he’s one of the biggest reasons I became this athletic.”
Minister for Education Dr Tony Buti presented Sophie with a trophy and certificate and also shared that more than 2.6 million minutes of exercise were logged by staff and students during the challenge.
“Whether running, walking, or wheeling, every movement counted, and I am so proud of how WA students, schools and communities embraced the challenge,” he said.
“As a runner myself, I know how beneficial physical activity can be. Not only does running help to build endurance, strength, and overall fitness, but it also leads to improved wellbeing and increased self-confidence.”
Head of Health and Physical Education at Southern River College, Shannon Fernando, congratulated Sophie on her achievement and praised the challenge for not only its physical health benefits but also its impact on mental resilience and goal-setting skills.
“The Running Challenge is a fantastic initiative that encourages students to push their limits and discover their potential, and I believe Sophie will inspire more to partake in this challenge next year,” he said.
“Our students have boundless potential, and it’s exciting to see them rise to such inspiring challenges.”
With a bright athletic future ahead, Sophie said she hopes to run in marathons in the future but plans to pursue a career in the legal field.
“I would very much like to continue doing athletics when I’m an adult, but only as a hobby because I plan to become a prosecutor when I’m an adult,” she said.
As the winner of the challenge, she also received a $1,000 Red Balloon gift certificate, which she plans to use for a family holiday.
“I think I am going to take my family on a nice trip to Rottnest Island for a couple of nights.”
