Weipa-grown runner Bridie Mahr is heading off to the US after being signed to Canisius University in Buffalo, New York. Photo: Supplied.
A passion and talent fostered in Weipa is taking a young runner all the way to the United States on a scholarship.
Bridie Mahr has been signed to the track and cross-country team at Canisius University in Buffalo, New York, where she’ll compete at the highest college level as part of a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 school.
Mahr said she fell in love with running at a young age through cross-country events at Western Cape College and never looked back, participating in the Weipa Running Festival and Parkrun during her time in the community.
She stayed in Weipa until the end of Year 10 before moving to Cairns – in pursuit of more running opportunities – where she competed with the Pace Project. After submitting some impressive race times and academic grades, the athlete was accepted to start her new chapter almost 15,000 kilometres away in 2026.
“I didn’t realise it was an opportunity for me until the end of last year. But I know of people who have gone over there and it looks like an incredible experience,” she said.
“I made contact with a lot of different coaches across different states. But in the end, Canisius was the one that suited me because the values of the coach and school really aligned with mine and I felt I would be supported in that university.
“I’ll have a lot more opportunities with racing. I get to compete for a D1 university and being able to have that experience in a different country is really amazing.”
Mahr knows she’ll have a hard time with homesickness and adapting to the winter weather, but is up for the challenge.
“I just want to see how far I can take my running,” she said. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to get some PBs and push myself to a new level over there.”
The former Weipa competitor will head over to the States in mid-January, but said she would never forget her roots and those who pushed her to be the athlete she was today.
“I just want to say thank you to the Weipa running community – they’ve always been really supportive of me,” she said.
“I also want to mention Rose Robins and Ross Dawson from the Weipa Running Festival. They were the first people I told about my scholarship outside of my family.
“They’ve both been such positive role models and huge supporters of my running journey over the years.”
Bridie Mahr’s excited to see how far she can take her running when she tackles a new challenge almost 15,000 kilometres from home. Photo: Supplied.
