My name is Ben Tacey and I am a first-year student at USC having graduated from Immanuel Lutheran College in 2018.  I am studying a Bachelor of Sport Studies majoring in Entrepreneurship. I have been competing in the sport of Cross Country and Track since I was 9 years old and started taking it more seriously when I was 15. Growing up as a kid I always had the long-term goals of competing professionally in sports. It was first AFL, followed by Cricket, but somehow running has been what has stayed with me throughout the years.

A standard training week for me would consist of;

• 3 speed/interval sessions
• 6 medium to easy jogs
• 2 gym sessions
• 1 long run to finish the week off

I go into every race with different goals and intentions, and I try to keep my preparation as similar and simple as possible. The goal I have for every race is that when I’m standing on the start line, there should be minimal thoughts put into why I might have a bad race. Preparation is the most essential thing for me to have this mindset.

My goal for this track season, that I’ve been working at for the past 5 months, is to win the Under 20 1500m State final which is coming up in Brisbane next weekend. Another near future goal of mine is to take my running overseas and train with other runners in countries from all around the world. I plan on doing the Study Overseas opportunity that USC offers in order to experience and learn from other athletes, while still earning credits towards my degree, studying at a partner university. I believe the HPSA program at USC can offer a tremendous amount of support for me in order to achieve my sporting goals, moreover by providing a friendly community vibe, top level facilities, coaching, and support to keep me free of stress and weighed down by assessments. I hope to graduate from USC as a much more developed athlete, ready for the professional world of running. In addition, I am hoping to gain more knowledge and professional kills to pursue a career pathway of my choice that can last much longer than my time on the track.

HPSA wishes Ben the best of luck at QLD States this weekend!

You can read more about the HPSA program and how to apply here