When Rose Catejan rejoined FAST Running on 5 March 2024, she wasn’t chasing personal bests or championship dreams—she was simply returning to something she once loved. After nearly six years away from the sport, the former Ginninderra Athletics Club junior coach and 2018 ACT school leaver, who had run 13.92s for 100m as a teen, stepped back on the track through our FAST & Active program.
Now, one year later, she has rewritten her story—culminating in a remarkable performance at the 2025 Australian University Games on the Gold Coast, where she lined up alongside the nation’s fastest university athletes and finished 7th in the 200m (27.86s) and 8th in the 100m (13.28s) in her heats. It was the final chapter in a season filled with grit, growth, and unexpected glory.
Reigniting the Flame
Since leaving Canberra for her home in Papua New Guinea in late 2018, Rose had focused on her academic journey—first in PNG and then back in Australia, where she is now a third-year Biomedical Science student at the University of Canberra, working at the UC Library and coaching the next generation of athletes through our FAST Kids Accelerate Clinics.
Returning to serious training after such a long break wasn’t easy. But Rose approached it with quiet determination. Within weeks of returning to the track, she was back in the gym at FAST HQ—lifting, mobilising, and laying the foundations for what would become a breakout year.
Climbing the Ranks
By winter, Rose had progressed into the FAST Track program. She embraced every session—whether it was soft sand at Lyneham, hills at Regatta Point, or sprint work at Stromlo Forest Park. Her resilience stood out. By October, she was officially part of the FAST Performance group.
A training camp at the South Coast in September helped her bond with the squad, while competition at the Capital Athletics Summer Series saw her finally surpass her high school best, clocking 13.57s in the 100m in November. It was her first sub-14 performance since 2018—and a powerful symbol of what was to come.
Breaking Barriers
Rose’s sights were now set on something bigger: sub-13 seconds.
Her hard work took her to the Capital Athletics State Championships in February and then to the World Athletics Permit Meet on 1 March 2025, where she stunned the field with a blistering 13.14s in the Open Women’s 100m—a new personal best and a qualifying mark for national-level competition.
In just 12 months, Rose had gone from “getting fit again” to becoming one of the top university sprinters in the country, ranked in the World Athletics system and eyeing international representation in the seasons ahead.
An Unforgettable Season
At the Australian University Games, Rose capped off her year with two courageous races. Her 8th place in the 100m and 7th in the 200m showcased not just her speed but her heart. Competing against athletes who never took time away from the sport, Rose showed what’s possible when purpose meets perseverance.
Her journey is more than a comeback—it’s a blueprint. From the Highlands of PNG to the heights of national athletics, Rose Catejan has proven that it’s never too late to chase your dreams.
As she prepares for a 2025 season with bigger goals and even faster times, one thing is certain: the best is still to come. And when she breaks the 13-second barrier, it will be with the same quiet resolve that’s brought her this far—FAST.
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