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Go Lisa go!

22 Mar, 2006 07:41 AM
It's history now, where Lisa Corrigan placed last night in the Commonwealth Games 1500 Women's Track event, but for her family yesterday, it didn't matter where she ran or whether she won a medal.

What mattered was that she got there.

After a series of injury and illness setbacks, the former Canowindra High school student fought her way back this year, culminating in her proudly taking to the track yesterday evening to compete in the final of the 1500 metres wearing the green and gold.

You can bet all of Canowindra was glued to the television last night, to watch Corrigan compete in the biggest race of her life.

Her family, mum Cathy and father Michael were in Melbourne to watch their daughter realise her dream and cheer from the grandstand.

Decked out in specially printed "Go Lisa Corrigan" t-shirts, her mother said yesterday Corrigan felt the nerves and pressure before competing in Monday's heat.

"She was very nervous, extremely nervous, because up until now, it was the biggest thing in her life she has competed in. She wasn't really expecting to be in the final.

"I think she's a little less nervous today. She's taking it easy and said she was feeling good."

Cathy's voice was already a little hoarse from cheering in the grandstand, but she had no plans of turning down the supportive volume.

"If she makes it into the medals, we will just rush in to hug her. But it doesn't matter where she runs, we're just proud of her."

Back home in Canowindra, family friends were just as excited as the Melbourne contingent, no matter what the result.

Rob Fitzgerald at the Junction Hotel spoke to Corrigan on Monday after she

qualified for the finals, saying the 21-year-old athlete was over the moon about her performance.

He was just as excited for her.

"We're already planning a huge party for her when she comes home," he said.

"We're all behind her."

Corrigan ran a second and a half off her personal best on Monday, comfortably qualifying when she ran second in her heat with a time of 4:11:21.

She only needed to place fourth to qualify, but finished just sixteen hundredths of a second behind the winner of her heat, Englishwoman Helen Clitheroe.

Corrigan overcame an ear infection to qualify for the Australian track team earlier this year. Her mother paid tribute to the hard work and dedication the young woman has ploughed into her athletic career.

A very successful junior, Corrigan represented Australia in the 2000 Commonwealth Youth Games and the 2001 World Youth Championships.

Now based in the ACT, she is studying for her Bachelor of Education (secondary physical education) at the University of Canberra.

In the 12 person final, Corrigan faced three other three Australian runners, as all Australia's representatives made it to the final.

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The 21 year old athlete, now based at the University of Canberra, who took on the Commonwealth’s best last night in the 1500 metres track final.
The 21 year old athlete, now based at the University of Canberra, who took on the Commonwealth’s best last night in the 1500 metres track final.

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