A 31-YEAR-OLD school record for the 400m has been broken at this year's Dubbo College Delroy Campus carnival, and the original record-holder could not be happier.
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Former Delroy High School student athlete Colleen Bragg set the record of 1 minute and 15.0 seconds in her year 7 athletics carnival in 1984, not realising at the time the record would remain hers for the next 31 years.
The Moree-based PDHPE teacher, 43, was overcome with emotion when she heard the news and passed on her best wishes to the new record-holder, 12-year-old Mirrikie Shaw, who set a new time of 1:13:38.
"When I was at Delroy I had to work really hard to beat the Aboriginal girls because they were so naturally talented, so I am not surprised that Mirrikie is Aboriginal and has broken the record," she said.
"I was a really keen runner and I used to really look forward to the athletics carnival, which was always held at Victoria Park No.1 Oval," Colleen said.
"I would always run in bare feet on the grass track and I took part in every running event from the 100m to the 1500m, and in every throwing and jumping event from Year 7 to Year 12.
"I was very competitive in those days.
"We lived out of town on the Narromine Road and running and cycling were my favourite pastimes, but I also played basketball and netball."
Colleen, who married her partner Alfred Priestley, a Gomeroi Aboriginal man from Moree, three years ago, now has two young sons who also excel in athletics.
"My seven-year-old is very fast and always likes me to compete with him in the parents' race at the sports carnival," she said. "While my six-year-old is more talented in gymnastics."
For current Delroy Campus student Mirrikie, breaking the record set three decades ago brought a gentle smile to her face.
The youngest child of six, including five older brothers, doesn't practice a great deal and has a natural running ability.
"I haven't tried the 1500m but I do compete in everything from the 100m to the 800m," she said.
"I always wear joggers when I run and I would say the new track at the Barden Park facility has helped me pick up a bit of speed.
"I also play netball, basketball and touch football and I come from a very sports-oriented family. My older brothers are all involved in sport, my mum was a swimmer and horse-rider and my dad was good at athletics and rugby league."
Mirrikie has received a scholarship to a boarding school in Sydney next year where she plans to continue her sporting endeavours.
Colleen said she wished Mirrikie good luck for the future and urged her not to give up on her athletics.
Meanwhile, another two records were established at this year's Delroy athletics carnival.
Dwane Knight took out the 16-years 200m in a time of 24.16s and Jordan Yeo set a record of 5:50.68 in the 15-years 1500m.