She joined 50 talented teens from NSW and Victoria competing at two major track and field competitions during a three-week North American athletics tour through Canada and the United States.

Emma, who trains under local coach Andrew Frend, was invited to participate in the tour by Sports Travel Australia based on her performance at NSW CCC and NSW all schools competitions held last year. 

Although not an official Australian athletics team, the athletes competed under the banner of Sports Travel Australia which has been taking track and field tours to Canada since 1990. 

The tour offers talented junior athletes the opportunity to travel overseas and experience international competition. 

“It had always been a dream of mine to represent Australia,” Emma recalled.

After only one day to acclimatise, the group competed on June 27-29 at the Jack Brow Memorial meet in Kelowna, British Columbia – an event which attracted around 1000 athletes. 

Emma competed in the 100m, 200m and 80m hurdles and secured a sixth place ribbon as well as 12th and 18th. Emma also ran the third leg of the winning relay team in the 13-15 age group called the Midgets. 

On the Saturday night the athletes had a disco at the track with a live DJ which was a lot of fun and a great bonding session for the athletes. 

Emma was happy with her performance in the competition particularly in achieving a personal best (PB) time in the 80m hurdles. 

“Although I didn’t run as fast as I had hoped in the 100m and 200m I was happy with my results as it was an amazing experience,” she said. 

“It was difficult getting off a 14-hour flight then having a 10-hour bus trip with only one day training before competition.” 

After a few days sightseeing and training around Kelowna and Vancouver, the athletes competed at the Trevor Craven Memorial meet in Vancouver on July 5-6 alongside the Australian junior athletics team that was preparing for the Junior World Championships. 

Emma collected two ribbons at the event, competing in the 100m, 200m, 80m hurdles, long jump and javelin. She achieved three new PBs at the event and had a great time. Emma picked up plenty of life experience, made many of new friends and is looking forward to the upcoming athletics season.

After a busy two weeks of training, competition and sightseeing around Canada the athletes and accompanying parents flew to Los Angeles for some fun visiting Hollywood, Universal Studios, Disneyland, San Diego Safari Park and Santa Monica pier.