Emerging Fellow recipient and distance runner, Mariah Cristian, has been hard at work this summer honing her raw skills at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, USA. Photo:Charlie Jackson/VINO

Mariah Cristian during her training session at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, USA. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

IMG Academy offers athletes the opportunity to improve their sport and educational performance on a 500 acre, world-class, state of the art campus. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Mariah Cristian came to the IMG Academy with an open mind and willing to learn. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Mariah Cristian during her training session at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, USA. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

IMG Academy offers athletes the opportunity to improve their sport and educational performance on a 500 acre, world-class, state of the art campus, that includes a Mondo track, a performance and sports science centre, gymnasiums, swimming pools, tennis courts, a golf course, a football stadium, numerous soccer pitches and other buildings and services to fully integrate athletes to modern methods and technology.

“I came here not knowing what to expect, but Coach Erwin “Redz” Telemaque said it would be a good idea and we applied to Emerging Fellows, learnt more about IMG and everything came together.”

Hard work, determination and a big heart

Cristian came to the Academy with an open mind and willing to learn: “Everything here is on point,” she said, “the food, the performance centre, the track, everything is so professional and the Coaches have access and time to expose us to the latest technology.”

As far as going home and maintaining the new-found techniques, Christian noted that the Coaches have used slow motion video to analyse everything and that there are Aps to download to help with all other aspects of the sport.

Mariah came to the track without any real ability, but has driven herself, with the support of Coaches, with hard work, determination and a big heart.

She said, “That is what keeps me focused, remembering where I was and where I have got to so far. It is a major difference and am learning new things as I go on and so far, getting better and better.”

Christian has a personal best of 5:18 over 1500m and after the hard work at the IMG, her Coaches suggest 5 mins flat will be reachable next season and she will also take on 3000m events.

‘Family is the most important thing to me’

Track has always been her favourite sport, although she did play football, but her life away from the track is spent with education, family and friends at the beach or taking in some local basketball.

“Family is the most important thing to me and without them I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today.”

As to her overall impression of the IMG Academy, Christian concluded that one of the overall positive things is that everyone has time for the athletes, whether Track, Tennis, Football, Basketball or Golf, “Not only time, but also a focus on technique, which they view as a major part of the sport. The food is so varied and healthy, well monitored and tasty, also they have Gatorade everywhere with drinks for recovery, protein shakes and energy bars.”

Since she arrived at the Academy two weeks ago, Christian acknowledges the biggest change she has seen in herself is the way she thinks about Track and Field, how by simple changes, things can be improved and with the determination and talent.