Wellingtonian Kate McIlroy has already won mountain running’s World Championship crown, now she’s changed disciplines as she aims for the ultimate prize – Olympic gold.
As a child, Kate always dreamed of going to the Olympic Games, and with mountain running’s top prize achieved she has turned her focus to Olympic event, the 3000 metre steeplechase.
Off the track, Kate has won many sporting awards including New Zealand junior athlete of the year in 1997 and being named the 2005 Halberg sportswoman of the year.
Kate came fifth in the steeplechase at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, and is determined to improve on that at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – the world’s biggest sporting event.
Sport Highlight to Date: Winning the 2005 world mountain running champs in front of a home crowd
Ultimate Goal: Winning a medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Facts/Info
Name: Kate McIlroy
Sport: Athletics
Discipline: Mountain Running and 3000m Steeplechase
DOB: 26 August, 1981
Height: 1.73m
Weight: 59kg
New Zealand Academy of Sport region: New Zealand Academy of Sport Central
Current Location: Wellington
Coach: John Bowden
Support Team: Andrew Lambart and David Abercrombie (physiotherapists), Mehmet Tuzel and Lawrence Newman (massage therapists), Jocelyn McGregor (Pilates teacher), partner Johnny Curtis, family and friends
Club: Wellington Harriers
Sponsors: SPARC (through the New Zealand Academy of Sport), Puma, Hyundai, AMP Capital, Robyn Mathieson
Job: Athlete/part time at Tommy’s Real Estate
Education: Bachelor of Commerce, Victoria University
New Zealand Experience (up to May 2007):
New Zealand Cross Country Champs, August 2005
Rabbit Island, Nelson 1st
Sir Barry Curtis 10km, October 2005
Auckland (Course record, 33:02) 1st
Auckland Centre Meet, January 2006
3km Steeplechase (NZ Record, 9:51.39) 1st
New Zealand Track & Field Champs, January 2006 1st
3km Steeple Chase (NZ Record, 9:47.99)
Christchurch
New Zealand Mountain Champs, May 2006
Black Birch, Blenheim 1st
International Experience (up to May 2007):
World Mountain Running Champ, September 2005 1st
Zatopek 10km Champs, Melbourne, December 2005 1st
(33:17)
Australian Track & Field Champs, Sydney, February 2006 3rd
3km Steeplechase (NZ Record, 9:40.20)
Melbourne Grand Prix, March 2006
3000 m (8:53) 3rd
Commonwealth Games, Melbourne, March 2006
3km Steeplechase (NZ record 9:35.70) 5th
KBC Nacht Athletics Meet, Heusden, Belgium, July 2006
3km Steeplechase (NZ record 9.32.54) 5th
London Grand Prix, Crystal Palace, London, July 2006
3km (9.02) 13th
Hercules Grand Prix, Monaco, 21st August 2006
3km Steeplechase (9.55) 10th
World Cross Country Championships, Fukuoka, Japan
8km 16th
Awards & Team Selection (up to May 2007):
New Zealand Junior Athlete of the Year, 1997
World Junior Track & Field Championships, Santiago, Chile, 2000
World University Games, Beijing, China, 2000
New Zealand Women’s Road Relay Team, Seoul, Korea, 2003
World Cross Country Championships, Saint Galmier, France, 2005
Wellington Sportswoman of the Year 2005
Halberg Sportswoman of the Year award, 2005
Commonwealth Games Team, Melbourne (March 15th-26th, 2006)
World Cross Country Champs, Fukuoka, Japan (April 1st-2nd, 2006)
Ranked 10th in the world for 3km Steeplechase 2006
Selected for World Track & Field Champs, Osaka, Japan (August 2007)
