Local track athlete invited to Australia

by Mark Huard

Sovie Rau

Sovie Rau, a track and field athlete from Vassalboro, has been invited to compete in the Coast 2 Coast International Track and Field Championships, taking place from July 4 to 6, 2026, at The Gold Coast Performance Center, in Runaway Bay, Australia.

This invitation was earned by Sovie by meeting specific qualifying standards in her track and field events. Sovie is a junior at Erskine Academy, in South China, where she maintains high honors and has won awards in Academic Excellence in English, the Coach’s Award for indoor and outdoor track, and The Don Berry Award for Outstanding Track Athlete at KVAC Championships. Sovie is a Maine’s Top Ten athlete in the 100m, 200m, and 400m sprints.

She volunteers with the Winslow Rec Youth Track and Field program every summer, helping children ages 4-15 explore track and field events.

Sovie’s journey Down Under begins in late June, and includes a week of elite training and competition at The Gold Coast Performance Center. In addition, the athletes will enjoy several group outings and excursions where they will explore the Gold Coast and many aspects of Australian culture. She will compete in a three-day championship meet at the end of her stay.

Sovie will also be competing in USATF (USA Track & Field) Junior Olympics in 2026. She qualified and competed at Junior Olympics Regionals three times, and ran at the 2024 Junior Olympics Nationals in Texas.

To maintain amateur status, Sovie must rely on the generous donations from family, friends, teachers, coaches, neighbors and local businesses to fund her trip.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Sovie’s trip to Australia can do so by going directly to www.coast2coastinternationalathletics.com and click on payments. Make sure to put “Sovie Rau” in the notes section so the money gets posted to her account. All sponsors will be entered into a drawing for one of five $100 VISA gift cards, to be drawn on July 6, 2026, at the Coast 2 Coast Track & Field Banquet. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a significant impact!