Army - The Soldiers' Newspaper

Pte Sophie Joynes, with her two silver medals for 5000m and half marathon at the recent Oceania Games, held in New Zealand. She is now in training for the Australian national track and field titles.
Photo by Cpl Patrina Malone

Silver Sophie
1CSSB athlete stars in New Zealand

Oceania Games success

By Michael Weaver and Cpl Alisha Carr
She’s won two international athletics silver medals but Pte Sophie Joynes has her heart set on the next level – gold.

After success at the Oceania Games in New Zealand late last year, the Darwin-based sub-unit physical training instructor is aiming to go from silver medal winner for Australia to athletics golden girl.

Pte Joynes, 1CSSB, secured silver medals in the women’s 5000m and half marathon races and is now ranked number one in Australia in her age group, while she also knocked three-and-a-half minutes off her personal best in the half marathon.

But for Pte Joynes, who has just turned 22, the gap between silver and gold is one that has more to do with getting to the race than crossing the finish line.

Pte Joynes has been running competitively for just on 12 months and has gone ahead in leaps and bounds, with her selection in the Australian athletics team for the Oceania Games coming as a big surprise.

However, it has given her the incentive to pursue rewards with a golden glint after realising just where she stands in the eyes of fellow athletes.

“The Oceania Games was a great experience and while I was happy with the result, it made me realise just what I’ve got to do to get to where I want,” she said.

Her other hurdle is one that haunts many an amateur sportsperson seeking success. It involves money and knocking on doors for sponsorship and Pte Joynes said it is the only thing holding her back at present.

“Going bush can also sometimes wreck your build-up to an event but can also help in other ways with fitness and mental aspects.”

Pte Joynes said sponsorship would definitely help, especially in defraying costs associated with just turning up at the start line.

“I have six events within the next three to four months and it’s going to be tough getting to them.

“It’s just really expensive and being in the Northern Territory doesn’t help because the majority of competitions are down south.”

She currently has her sights on the Australian Athletics Championships, which will be held in Brisbane in April this year, where she will compete in the 800m and 1500m events.

“I’m also really looking forward to the Arafura Games (in Darwin, May 17-24) where I’ll actually be representing Defence.”

Pte Joynes has also just completed a training camp with high-level coaches in Victoria, which she said made a big improvement to her fitness.

While there, she finished 9th from 30 starters at an event in Ballarat, 4th in the elite female division of an 8km mountain run at Lorne and 20th in the world cross country trials at Melbourne.

For now, it’s a daily battle with the humidity in Darwin, inter-twined with physical training lessons, her own personal training and, of course, the occasional trip into the bush.