17 July 2026
West Australian elite athletes are encouraging students to get behind the Education Minister’s Running Challenge for 2026.
Students are gearing up for the 2026 Education Minister's Running Challenge.
West Coast Fever captain Jess Anstiss is among those reinforcing the positive benefits of physical activity.
Anstiss took part in a video to mark the program launch with Fever vice-captain Alice Teague-Neeld and Australian Diamond Sunday Aryang.
The Education Minister’s Running Challenge aims to highlight the important role physical activity plays in supporting students' academic performance, brain health, fitness and mental wellbeing, all of which contribute to positive learning outcomes.
Also warming up for this year’s challenge is 16-year-old Perth student and cyclist Ava ‘Gidget’ Rodgers.
Gidget is a Western Australia Institute of Sport (WAIS) talent identification participant who is already an Australian gold and silver medallist.
She attributes her success to challenging herself and wearing a special pair of earrings that bring her “good juju”.
Her hard work paid off in Europe recently when Gidget trounced more than fifty entrants to win a 64 km road race in Belgium.
The athletes are encouraging students and staff to get involved in the 9-week challenge that runs from Monday 20 July to Friday 18 September 2026.
Students who run, walk, cycle, scoot, push or operate a wheelchair can go in the draw to win weekly prizes.
To register, run to the challenge website.