Running strong, Sarissa Falk placed 122 out of 3,583 runners in her first race in Australia. A 2013 CCHS graduate, Falk competed with and against runners from all over the world and was the only Minnesota representative. Left: Sarissa (wearing bib 470) stands with her teammates from Wisconsin and Colorado. Her team won the high school cross country competition against a deep field of runners.
Minnesota had only one representative in the 25th annual Down Under Bowl running competitions held early July in Australia, and that athlete, Sarissa Falk from Grand Marais, did her home town and state proud.
All in all 180 high school runners representing all 50 states travelled halfway around the world to compete against athletes from around the globe.
Arriving on July 3, Falk and her mates barely had time to settle in before racing a 5.7 k the next day. Sarissa placed 122 out of 3,583 runners, and finished first in her age group.
“It was an open race, kind of like Grandma’s Marathon. It was a big field of runners. I was tired but really happy with how I ran,” Falk said.
On July 8 Sarissa raced in the 5k Challenge Down Under Group competition. Her team of 20 kids placed first out of six teams and Sarissa placed 4th in her age group.
In between races the kids traveled out and about, including a stop at the Great Barrier Reef. “I went snorkeling and I got to see and touch a sea turtle. I also saw an octopus and starfish, among all of the other things swimming around. It was awesome. It was my favorite part of the trip,” Falk said.
Not too far behind on the “awesome list” was a chance to surf and travel to a sanctuary zoo where she got to hold a Kola Bear.
Coming back home involved a three-day layover in Hawaii. Again, this ranked pretty high on her list of “favorite things ever.”
“It was super relaxing. We got to lie on the beach and then go to Honaunau Bay and snorkel. We also got to go to a Polynesian cultural center and see hula dancing and fire throwing,” said Falk
The daughter of Mark and Sue Falk, Grad Marais, Sarissa will leave for Hamline University on August 25 where she will attend college and run on the cross country and track team. She is currently running 60 miles per week to get ready for the rigors of college cross-country. When asked if she would ever like to go back to Australia or Hawaii, Sarrisa said, “Yes, definitely. But first I want to thank all of the people who helped and supported me. I couldn’t have done it without your help.”
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