Yass High School teacher Sophie Broadhead struggled to fight back tears on Sunday, following her breakthrough win at the Queanbeyan Gift.
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The win comes 12 months after a nightmare 2014 Gift, where Broadhead tore her hamstring in a brave attempt to get the win.
Sunday's victory was also extra special, considering she was running for her training partner Elijah Arranz, who was involved in a tragic skydiving accident just 24 hours before.
While Arranz remains in an induced coma the same can't be said for tandem instructor Tony Rokov who herocially wrapped himself around the 14-year-old to cushion the blow on impact. He died at the scene.
"Elijah is in my training squad so for that to happen the day before made running tough but made the win extra special, too," Broadhead told the Tribune from her Yass High staffroom.
"He's a great kid who's a big part of our squad so I just wish for a good recovery."
The Queanbeyan Gift is the country's second biggest footrace and a handicapped 120m event which is based on the times that runners register over the course of 12 months.
"What suited me this year was that because I've been injured I haven't been registering times so I ran off the same handicap as last year, 9.5 metres, so obviously I was nervous but that made me a bit confident."
She ran a 13.61 and just managed to hold off favourite Jess Thornton who started at the 120m mark, furthest back.
"Jess is an unbelievable runner and I knew she'd be breathing down my neck and she was, so I was just so glad I held on."
Broadhead, who teaches PE and Special Education, trains six times a week, which includes five track sessions and two gym sessions at the AIS.
"Training can be tough but it's continuing now because I've got Nationals coming up soon and then the big one, the Stawell Gift, in Easter."
She also said the win wasn't just hers alone.
"I've got to mention my coach Dennis Goodwin who has been great and my Mum and Dad who have been there from the beginning."
Along with the winner's trophy Broadhead also claimed a cool $12,000 for the victory. Goodwin enjoyed a good payday, taking home $1500 after he got Broadhead in the Gift's Calcutta.
Yass man Ben Wylie also competed at the weekend, making the semi-final for the Gift and the final for the 300m dash.