Ellie Sanford

BIOGRAPHY

There have been a number of key turning points in the athletics career of Ellie Sanford that have led to her National team debut at the upcoming 2023 World Championships, not least meeting coaching great Peter Fortune in 2017 and in 2022 adjusting her life to suit an athletics career. 

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A primary school friend was important to Ellie Sanford starting her journey in athletics when she was aged 7. Ellie recalled the circumstances: “One day after school, my friends’ parents asked her if she was the fastest runner in her class.  Her response was “I can beat everyone except Ellie.” It led to Ellie joining her local athletics club.

In her early teens Ellie participated in various sports including soccer, tennis, swimming and dancing. Relying just on fitness and natural talent, she competed at National junior and schools championships. At 14 she moved her focus to athletics and soccer in winter and staring training under coach Dave Sommers. By age 16 she had run an impressive 2:09.64 for 800m and was on the podium at the Australian championships. The next year she ran fractionally faster but after the Australian championships in March 2015 decided to quit sport to concentrate on her last year of high school (VCE). Then in 2016 she commenced studies in law/finance at Monash University. 

Nearly three years after she had left athletics, in late 2017 she met coach Peter Fortune and after much deliberation, resumed her journey in athletics. Within a few months of training, at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games trials she clocked a PB 2:07.75.
During 2018 to 2020, she admits to just dabbling in athletics, ‘fixated on study and work’ was how she described it and attending training about once a week.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the world in early 2020. It enabled Ellie to work and study from home and gave her back considerable extra time to train, which included running with her Dad, a lawyer. 
“I probably wouldn’t have gotten back into athletics if he wasn’t around. He ran with me every day during the COVID lockdowns, and he’s continued to be my key training partner/pacemaker ever since.”

Mid-pandemic, in early 2021, there were positive signs for her career, moving her PB from 2:07 to 2:03.17 with three consecutive PBs over four weeks. At the National championships she was sixth.

By November 2021, Ellie had graduated and in 2023 she was admitted into the Supreme Court of Victoria as a lawyer. After she had graduated, Ellie decided she was all-in with athletics. She signed a sponsorship with Puma, joined now coach Terri Cater, commenced gym training and dropped back to part time work. At the 2022 Nationals she was fourth and mid-year in Europe clocked two PBs with a best of 2:01.98.
Over the 2023 summer she was again on a PB spree with four consecutive lifetime bests, ending with a silver medal at Nationals in a time of 2:00.50. She was now number 15 Australian all-time.

Most influential person in your career: her Dad who ran with her during the pandemic and as a lawyer provided her with lots of valuable advice across my studies and work…Advice to your young self: Just focus on your own timeline – don’t worry if you do things in an ‘unconventional’ order. Do what works for you and don’t do things one way just because it’s what the majority do…Hobbies: reading/watching true crime documentaries, spending time at a beach location, going for a walk and grabbing a coffee with friends… Sporting ambition: I really want to see how fast I can go/how much I can push myself (and hopefully move up to the top few on the Australian all-time ranking list). I’d also love to represent Australia in some capacity…Education: Law/Commerce Monash University 2016-2021, Diploma in Legal Practice at Leo Cussen 2022, Admitted into the Supreme Court of Victoria as an Australian Lawyer 2023…Interesting Facts: plays the violin, her Dad was in a team which recently broke the 4x800 World Record (M45+).…Biggest challenge faced: Living away from home for 3-4 months each year to compete on the European circuit. It’s an awesome opportunity, but it’s tough being away from my support network and routine
 
@ August david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au

World Athletics Profile https://worldathletics.org/athletes/australia/ellie-sanford-14457840