Young Cogan has undergone months of training and competition to earn her spot at Nationals, after winning her school cross country earlier on in the year.

Placing first qualified the 11-year-old for diocesan cross country in Quirindi which included all catholic schools in the North West.

Cogan placed first in Quirindi and secured her spot for Polding at Eastern Creek in Sydney.

“I placed second at Polding which meant I qualified for state or NSW All-Schools Cross Country. State included all primary schools, catholic, public and independent,” she said.

The athlete pushed hard at Polding last week, and although was still recovering from a calf muscle injury,  she managed to place third.

“Last year I also placed third at Polding and the year before that I placed second,” she said.

In two weeks, Cogan will travel to Hobart for nationals and although she is a little nervous, the excitement overtakes any other emotion.

“The course will remain the same distance, three kilometres, and on the Friday there will be an open ceremony and track walk before the cross country race on Saturday.

“On Sunday we are going on an excursion to Port Arthur before we participate in the team relay and closing ceremony on Monday,” she said.

Representing NSW, Cogan and four of her team mates will each run 1500 metres in a relay on Monday.

“Three of us went last year and the two other girls are new so I am excited to meet them,” she said.

Cogan thanked her trainer Ron Clissold who she meets with three times a week.

“Every other day except Saturday I train by myself I might go for a run or do some hills or short sprints.”

Cogan was joined at state by four other local sporting superstars including: Moree Public School’s Archie Matthews and Saint Philomena’s students Zara Cogan, Toby O’Neil and Ned Farrell. 

Each students was proud to represent Moree and gave their best effort on the day but unfortunately did not place high enough to progress.