Cassandra, 18, and Jacquie, 16, travel to Sale each week to train and compete with the Wellington Athletics Club, under the coaching of Denis Huffer.

Cassandra, who is in the first year of a sports development degree at Swinburne University in Melbourne, keeps in shape using the training program prepared by Huffer. Judging by her form so far this year, it is paying off for the talented young runner, whose favourite distances are the 800 and 1500 metres.

So far this year Cassandra has won gold medals at the Victorian country championships in Geelong, where she won the 800m and 1500m, at the nationals she ran a personal best of 2:16 minutes for the 800m. At the Victorian road and cross country championships at Sandown, Cassandra won the under 20 three kilometre cross country and finished second in the 3km road race.

Huffer said Cassandra was a natural, worked hard to improve and had a big future in the sport.

Jacquie began running as Cassandra seemed to be enjoying the sport.

Jacquie said she was keen to keep improving and at each event aimed to set personal best times.

She has also made an impressive start to the 2009 season. At the state country championships, Jacquie won the under 18 1500m and came second in the 800m.

At the state road and cross country championships at Sandown, Jacquie completed a winning double with in the under 18 3km cross country and 3km road race.

Another Wellington member, 14-year-old Mia Ross took over a minute off her best time and finished with a bronze medal in of 10:41min over the 3km course in the under 16 division at Sandown.

Cassie Fien, after taking out the Great Ocean Road half-marathon, finished third in the women's open 10km in 33:14min.

Fien has her eye set on qualifying for the world half marathon in October.

In the under 14 section, Hayden Stead came 13th and Jay Robbie 20th.

Patrick Smith, competing in his first run for the club, finished 21st in the under 18 men.

Wellington Athletic Club is always looking for new members. For more information phone Denis Huffer on 5145 1359.