Brianna Beahan : 100 % focus & physical commitment
By Mish Smith
While most of us force ourselves out of bed , unable to converse for an hour or so without coffee and shower , before heading into work for the daily grind , eagerly awaiting the weekend and talking ourselves into excuses as to why we can ’ t possibly make it to the gym that day , 24 year old Commonwealth Games Athlete and USANA Health Sciences ambassador , Brianna Beahan is juggling university , work , a social life and working on her next 100 metre Hurdle PB .
When I think of hurdling , I ’ m taken back to a time in my childhood in my backyard , my dad has strung up a rope between the trampoline and a tree and is showing me the mechanics of the jump “ Run , bend , then one leg extended to the front , the other hitched up like a weeing dog ….” Thankfully , this is not how Brianna was taught .
“ I ’ ve just started strength and conditioning training this year and have seen notable difference during track sessions . I feel stronger and my technical sessions have become more refined ”.
Currently training Monday-Saturday , her schedule includes 4 track sessions that incorporate sprint , technical , speed endurance and polymeric training ; the other two she focuses on strength and conditioning .
As she looks back over her highlights reel , which is ever increasing , there are a number of moments : she was ranked second in the world and held the 100 metre hurdles record ( 76cm ), her debut year in 2010 national in Perth , Australia she placed third , and she received silver in the 100m hurdles and in 2013 .
She was chosen to represent her country in the 100 metre hurdles at the World Universiade Summer Games in Kazan , Russia where she placed 12th overall and came out with a personal best record . ” I ’ d also say that World Relay Championships in Bahamas running in the 4 x 100 metre was awesome as well !”
From a young age , Brianna who was a self-proclaimed ‘ very hyperactive child ’ tried channelling that energy into Karate , Netball , Touch Rugby and Gymnastics before settling on Little Athletics at Joondalup Track Club as an U10 .
“ I chose athletics because it was fun and I guess I was good at it .” Although her passion initially lay with the 100 meter sprint , her then coach , Alan Savage introduced her to hurdles during her transfer from Joondalup Little Athletics to Kingsway . Through the perseverance and encouragement of Alan and her parents and belief in her potential , Brianna made her mark on the world of hurdling .
“ I certainly wasn ’ t showing any talent from the get go , but I definitely knew I loved it and wanted to pursue it . I even wanted to quit at one stage and go back to sprinting but I was pushed and I am forever thankful for that . Now I ’ m in the position I am today and I love hurdling !!”
It was the thought of progressing to an Olympic level ( a qualifying time of 13 seconds ) that made her stick it out . Through relentless training , the love and support of her family , coach and her partner , Jayden , Brianna pushed her boundaries and is ranked # 3 nationally for 2015 as evidenced by her PB of 13.17 in Canberra just this year .
8