GENEVIEVE LaCaze will have her eyes on the podium as she takes to the track for the Commonwealth Games Steeplechase state final on Wednesday.
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LaCaze embarked on her trip to the Gold Coast from Falls Creek in Victoria, but she is a local Queenslander at heart.
She grew up on the Gold Coast, attended school at Tamborine Mountain, moved to Logan and lived at Daisy Hill where she developed her specialised athletic and running abilies before pursuing a scholarship opportunity at the University of Florida.
LaCaze also has an intimate relationship with the Jimboomba community. Her father owned a pharmacy in the area and has made regular visits to the Jimboomba Little Athletics Club to motivate the young stars.
The Commonwealth Games champion fondly remembers the last time she visited the club in 2016.
“I just spoke about where I began,” LaCaze said.
“I wasn’t a super star as a young kid. I was just a solid athlete who loved doing the athletic events and competing in lots of sports at middle school and high school.
“You don’t have to be breaking records at a young age, it is all about enjoying it and developing yourself as an athlete.
“Don’t pigeon hole yourself – test your waters and try everything.”
Ahead of the anticipated Steeplechase event, LaCaze said she intended to give it her all.
“My preparation has not been that great, there have been a lot of injuries in the last 12 months,” she said.
“But, everything is going really well. I couldn’t have asked for things to go as smoothly as they have considering the situation.
“It is a decent field so I will go out and see how it feels...I am going in with my eye on the podium. I know I am a good enough athlete to be there and that is my aim.”
LaCaze has an enviable record on the track, representing Australia at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2017 world championships at London.
She has consistently placed as a top 10 finisher.
LaCaze said it would be an honour to compete in front of family, friends and local people who look up to her as a beacon of inspiration.
“I am just excited to race in front of a home crows and watch some of my team mates,” she said.
“It’s a great feeling to have a chance to run in front of so many loved ones.”
Looking ahead, LaCaze intends to tackle the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, but said she would go with the flow in terms of her personal goals.
“I don’t want to look too far in front. I’m looking to set small goals and then long term ones,” she said.
