Queensland Runners

20 years old from Townsville. Jack tried out for IMP because he believes there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and wanted a goal to focus on. He wants to be a strong Indigenous role model in his community, and to gain a better understating of the health issues affecting the people in his community. Jack has always had a passion for running, and was a talented cross country runner while at school. He also played NRL, but injured his shoulder, and now runs every day. Jack is an apprentice carpenter.

24 years old from Saibai Island Tali wanted to try out for IMP to try something different and wants to shine in a different sporting field because everyone plays the same sports in Cairns. He was inspired by his brother Jurgean, who ran for IMP in 2012, and wants to show people that if Jurgean can do it, so can he. He wants to spread the message in the Torres Strait that you can choose to do something different and still succeed. Tali plays AFL and NRL, training twice a week and playing games on the weekend. He runs three times each week. He finished grade 12 and was school captain in high school. He has travelled to Canberra for a ‘Dare to Dream’ program. He loves what IMP is about and is keen to get some more people from Saibai Islands to try out for IMP next year.

23 years old from Cairns Colin is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander from Badu Island. Since taking up running 12 months ago, Colin has lost 30kg, and is now in love with the sport. He now wants to become a long distance runner, and his passion for running was inspired by the 2012 London Olympics. He also wants to use running to stay healthy and continue to lose weight, while motivating his family and showing them what he can achieve. Colin spent his whole life in Cairns, before recently taking up a traineeship with the National Indigenous Training Academy at Yulara in central Australia, which will give him a Certificate II in Hospitality.