After winning gold and breaking records in the Junior State Championships, runner Isaac Zreika has his eyes on a national title as he heads to Perth to compete in the 800 metre and 1500 metre track.
The Trinity Catholic College, Auburn student recently set a new record, placing first in the 1500m with a record time of 4:18.33. He also placed first in the 800m with a time of 2:05.24, Zreika just missed out on the record, which stood at 2:05.23.
Zreika’s sporting career started late in primary school where in Year Six he won a cross country competition organised by Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS), and was pushed by his older brother to continue this winning trajectory.
Isaac Winning Gold for 800m at the Junior State Athletics Championships Photo: Supplied.
“He noticed how natural it felt for me and started training me on a treadmill at home for my next race. He would even do research on athletics, and he put together a training plan for me,” Zreika said.
“The experience made me realise how much I really loved running, and I haven’t looked back since”.
From there, he only excelled further.
“One of the highlights would be competing at Nationals in Tasmania, where I placed second in the 1500m. It took me five months of focused training to achieve this result.”
As a determined athlete, Zreika doesn’t let anything get in the way of him achieving his sporting dreams. At a previous National Championship in Adelaide, he was determined not to let a persistent injury stop him from competing and placing on the podium.
“I was dealing with a knee injury for close to five months, I wasn’t allowed to do any type of training, but after applying for an exemption and with my past performances, I was given the green light to compete. With only four weeks of very intense training, I was determined to make it and ended up winning third place.”
Zreika dedication to his athletic career is unwavering; with a strict six-day-a-week training plan, he still manages to balance his academics and personal life. The school community couldn’t be prouder, with Trinity College Principal Rick Grech highlighting Zreika’s admirable determination and commitment to his sports.
“His dedication, perseverance, and commitment to balancing his school life and athletic journey is truly exemplary. His accomplishments are a testament to his hard work and unwavering support from his family and the community at Trinity”, he said.
Trinity’s Assistant Leader of Sport Nathan Lomas says, “It’s incredible to see Isaac develop his skills and perform on the cross country and athletic track. Every time I have a chat with Isaac at school, he always tells me how hard he’s been training.”
In the future, Zreika has a fervent dream to compete at the Olympics, something his school is more than happy to aid him in, with Leader of Sport Vanessa Penitani saying, “We can’t wait to see him continue to grow in his cross country running abilities. I would love to see a student from Trinity Catholic College represent us on such a big stage.”
Reflecting on his achievements in preparation for the National Championships in Perth on 4 April, Zreika notes the importance of maintaining perseverance and a strong sense of self.
“Being fast alone isn’t enough. Without mental strength and resilience, success will be hard to achieve,” he said.