Nobody thought Balcatta girl Jessica Ronan was going to be an elite runner. But her perseverance has meant the Year 11 St Mary's Anglican Girls School student was the only WA athlete selected to represent Australia in the World Schools Cross Country Championships in Budapest next year.
"When I was younger I wasn't that fast," the 16-year-old said. "I used to come last or 2nd last and get a sticker that said 'you tried'. I remember it had a snail on it." However, a lap-a-thon during primary school showed what Jessica lacked in speed she made up for in endurance.
Thinking she would run just a few rounds, her parents sponsored her at $5 a lap. More than 20 laps later, Jessica was still going.
She still has one last hurdle - raising the finances to travel. Jessica and her family have set up a GoFundMe page to raise $4000. "Competing against all the other countries and representing my country will be amazing. It's something I've wanted for a long time," she said.www.gofundme.com/qg73b78w