Ballarat teenager Katherine Dowie has run into elite company with a gold medal in the women’s under-20 3000m steeplechase at the Combined Victorian Junior and Open Track and Field Championships at Melbourne’s Albert Park.

Katherine Dowie – guided to a state title by coach Rod Griffin.
The Eureka club member ran 10 minutes, 56.57 seconds – the second fastest in the age group in Australia this year behind Brielle Erbacher (10.56.52) and seventh in the women’s overall national rankings this year. Former Ballarat athlete Victoria Mitchell heads this list on 9.49.55.

This was Dowie first run over 3000m, having previously been focused on 2000m.

The state titles have been split over two weekends and resumed on Friday night. They continue on Saturday and Sunday.