Charli Miller | Sport

I am seventeen years of age and in my last year at high school.

I am immensely grateful for the funding I received over the last eight months from Affco and Adastra. This has enabled me to train to my potential physically and mentally. It has allowed me to be surrounded by amazing support systems in terms of coaching, mentoring and training pre and post Covid-19. This has been crucial in creating positive experiences for my growth in my sport.

Post lockdown I have been very fortunate that my sport has is predominantly individual so I have been able to participate and compete at a regional level.

I have won two Auckland Cross-Country U20 events and our recent Waikato Bay of Plenty Cross-Country Championships in a personal best time.

Recently I competed at the North Island Secondary School Duathlon Championships in Auckland and won the U20 event. I was very pleased with my result and to be over four minutes clear of second place.

Being one of the older athletes in my training squad I really enjoy coaching the younger aspiring athletes and using my own personal journey in sport to guide the, and create a positive environment for them to grow.

Competing against the best in the World at my age is something I have been looking forward to for a few years. I am wanting to test myself against the best and really challenge myself to see how far the sport can take me.

My short-term goal is to compete at the World Cross Country Championships at Bathurst, Australia. I have already met the qualifying time for this event. I also aim to qualify for the World Under 20 Track and Field Championships in Kenya August 2021 in the 5000m and/or 3km steeplechase.

Long term I want to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

As part of my preparation to achieve my immediate goals, I require funding to get me to the events that will challenge me and give me the competition I need. Being an athlete that competes in both cross country and track, there are a few events in the next eight months that require substantial expenses.