Cara Feain-Ryan (born 5 February 1999) is an Australian steeplechase runner. She was the gold medallist over 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2023 World University Games, and her best of 9:29.60 ranks her 6th all-time amongst Australians.[2]
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality |  Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 5 February 1999 (25 years, 332 days old)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Home town | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 55 kg (121 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Sport of athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 3000 metres 3000 metres steeplechase | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Ben Norton[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Now coaching | Moreton Bay College[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||
| National finals |
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| Personal best(s) | 3000m: 9:00.94 (2024) 3000mSC: 9:29.60 (2023) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| Updated on 4 April 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Career
Feain-Ryan began running in regional youth competition as early as 2013, participating in cross country running and winning the national U18 2000 metres steeplechase title.[1][3] She first represented Australia at the 2022 Oceania Athletics Championships, where she won a silver medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase.[1] She later qualified for her first global championship at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, where she finished 11th in her heat and did not qualify for the finals.[1]
At the 2021 Summer World University Games (postponed to 2023), Feain-Ryan kicked in the final lap of the 3000 m steeplechase to win her first international gold medal.[4][5] She won her first senior national title at the 2023 Australian Athletics Championships, qualifying her to represent Australia again at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.[6][7] At the world championships, she finished 7th in her heat and did not advance to the finals.[1]
Personal life
Feain-Ryan grew up in Alstonville, New South Wales, Australia. Her mother supports her athletics career, as her father died of brain cancer in 2008.[6] In 2015, she moved from Lismore, New South Wales to Brisbane, where she trains with Genevieve Gregson.[2][4]
She received a sports scholarship at the University of Queensland, where she studied speech pathology. She struggled with injuries during her early university career. Feain-Ryan is now coached professionally by Ben Norton, and she also coaches youth cross country and middle-distance running at Moreton Bay College.[3][2] Feain-Ryan struggled with funding her career, telling the Sydney Morning-Herald that she was not adequately supported by the Australian governing bodies.[8]
Statistics
Personal best progression
| # | Mark | Pl. | Competition | Venue | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10:46.25 |  |
Queensland Junior Championships | Brisbane, Australia | 12 Feb 2016 | |
| 2 | 10:35.30 |  |
Sally Pearson Shield at QSAC | Brisbane, Australia | 19 Jan 2018 | [9] |
| 3 | 10:32.20 | |
Coles Queensland Athletics Championships | Brisbane, Australia | 6 Mar 2019 | [10] |
| 4 | 10:28.16 | |
Brisbane, Australia | 21 Feb 2020 | [11] | |
| 5 | 10:19.01 | |
Queensland Athletics Championships | Brisbane, Australia | 4 Mar 2020 | [12] |
| 6 | 9:55.79 | |
Coles Summer Super Series | Canberra, Australia | 24 Feb 2021 | [13] |
| 7 | 9:38.39 | |
Australian Athletics Championships | Sydney, Australia | 17 Apr 2021 | [14] |
| 8 | 9:36.35 | |
Festival Of Athletics | Townsville, Australia | 17 Jun 2021 | [15] |
| 9 | 9:29.60 | 7th (Heat 2) | World Athletics Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 22 Aug 2023 | [16] |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Cara Feain-Ryan at Tilastopaja (registration required)
- ^ a b c d e f Australia, Athletics. "Cara Feain-Ryan". www.athletics.com.au. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Minerva: Cara Feain-Ryan". www.minervanetwork.com.au. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Barrier Breakthrough | Cara Feain-Ryan Hits 2023 World Championships in Form". www.athletics.com.au. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Admin (5 August 2023). "Feain-Ryan leads a golden night at the World University Games". UniSport Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Cara Feain-Ryan". Australian Sports Foundation. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Feain-Ryan wins dramatic steeplechase at Australian Championships - Inside Athletics". 1 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Wright, Nick (19 December 2023). "'Living on the breadline': The crisis crippling Brisbane's Olympic hopefuls". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12902942". Tilastopaja.
- ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12919469". Tilastopaja.
- ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #undefined". Tilastopaja.
- ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12959285". Tilastopaja.
- ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12976925". Tilastopaja.
- ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12981072". Tilastopaja.
- ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12992883". Tilastopaja.
- ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #13046619". Tilastopaja.