Meet the Coaches
Our difference is your advantage.
Formally Est 2022. Coaching since 2018.
Sole Steppers Race Walking is a premier coaching service dedicated to promoting the skill of race walking. With years of experience in the sport, coaches Alissa and Laelia are committed to fostering a community of enthusiastic, hard working athletes and developing in them the skills, fitness, endurance, race intelligence, motivation and confidence they need to excel in this highly technical sport.
Outstanding Results from the Start
Every athlete who has joined our squad has reached State level by the end of their first season (just 6 months) — even those with no prior coaching in Race Walking. At the 2025 Little Athletics State Championships, all of our athletes placed in the top 9, with one earning a gold medal and another a silver. Several athletes have gone on to reach National level within three years of beginning their walking journey with us, including one who claimed a National Gold Medal at the 2025 Australian Track and Field Championships.
What makes us different?
Limited squad numbers for maximum coach attention, our technique coaching methods and at-home skills development programs, our emphasis on fun not performance, the squads’ inclusive community, our holistic approach to each individual athlete and the out-of -coaching support we provide to athletes and their families.
Our Commitment to Excellence
Coaching and Training
Our team of 2 experienced coaches work closely with athletes of all skill levels, offering small squad or 1:1 coaching, personalised training programs and mentorship to help athletes reach their full potential. We believe that with the right guidance and support in a friendly inclusive squad, our athletes will develop a joy and passion to work hard for the goals they set. We feel a fun supportive environment encourages longevity in specialised sport.
Squad Community
At Sole Steppers Race Walking, we pride ourselves on our welcoming and friendly squad community . Fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can learn, grow, and connect. We also prioritise building a strong sense of community among our squad parents, so they can support one another through the ups and downs of raising athlete children. A dedicated Squad Chat and Team App also helps streamline communication and foster ongoing support.
Cutting-Edge Fascilities
Our squad has access to a range of essential equipment and training methods designed to develop exceptional technical precision and race walking skills. From specialised drills to unique creative methods including custom made equipment that fine-tunes technique, we leave no stone unturned in helping our athletes succeed. Training takes place at top-quality local facilities, including well-maintained grass fields, a newly resurfaced world class Mondo track, and smooth undulating paths ideal for road walk preparation.
Coach Alissa
Accreditations:
Level 1 Youth Coach, Athletics
Kids’ Athletics Coach
Level 2 Development Coach
Currently studying Level 3 High Performance Coach certification
Specialist Walks Coach Accredited
Bronze Coaching Badge Accredited
Awards:
- Blacktown Council Sports Awards “Coach of the Year” Finalist 2025. 1 of 3 Finalists from 26 nominees.
- 2023/24 Local Little Athletics Club Volunteer of the Year Nominee.
- 2022/23 Local Little Athletics Club Committee Member of the year Nominee.
About Me:
- Coaching Race Walkers Since 2018. From untrained beginners to national-level 10,000m athletes, tailored coaching is available to suit every level.
- Training is delivered in small, focused groups — capped at 9 in my advanced squad and 6 in my skills development squad — to ensure each athlete receives personalised attention and detailed feedback.
- Private coaching and online coaching sessions, customised training plans, as well as mentoring for emerging coaches and supportive parents, are available on request.
- My coaching philosophy centres on technical precision from the outset, building strength, speed, and endurance as athletes mature. Having personally experienced the challenges of relearning to walk in 2016, I bring a deeper understanding of neuroplasticity and technique coaching methods to my sessions. I place strong emphasis on developing correct neurophysical pathways to support consistent and efficient race walking technique. This is supported by a structured home routine of skill-based exercises, guided by parents, and reinforced through regular monitoring — both via video analysis and in-person assessments — with ongoing program adjustments as each athlete’s technique evolves.
- I coach with a holistic approach, addressing not just technical skills and fitness, but also the athlete’s strength, conditioning, mental wellbeing, nutrition, motivation and overall training/life load. My goal is to nurture mental resilience, determination and self-belief — qualities that are essential for long-term success in sport and in life. I also aim to cultivate a squad of athletes with exceptional sportsmanship and humility – essential values for high level athletes.
- Sole Steppers is inclusive and supportive of athletes with ADD, ADHD, dislexia and mild disabilities. Every athlete is valued, and training is thoughtfully adapted to help each individual succeed at their own pace.
- I offer as much physical support as possible to athletes and their parents at competitions — from Zone level right through to interstate National events. When time allows, I’m also more than happy to attend Cross Country and Athletics Championships to cheer them on.
Achievements
World
Current World Fastest ‘Top List’*
- 25th for the U18s 3000m Walk (track – 11 year old athlete!)
Current World rankings* in 2025:
- 68th U20s 10,000m Walk (track – 17 year old athlete)
- 78th U20s 5000m Walk (track – 17 year old athlete)
Final World Rankings* for 2024:
- 48th U18s 5km Road Walk
- 52nd U18s 10,000m Walk (track)
- 69th U18s 5000m Walk (track)
*All events World Permit meets with World Rankings as listed on World Athletics
National
- National Gold Medal – Men’s U14s 3000m Race Walk – 2025
- National Bronze medal – Men’s U18s 5000m Walk – 2024
- Many Gold, Silver and Bronze individual and team medals at the Australian Federation of Race Walk Clubs National Championships each year.
- 7 athletes so far qualifying for the Australian Track & Field Championships, the youngest being 11yrs old who qualified 2.5min quicker than the Under 14s qualifying standard.
State
- 2024, a Sole Stepper recorded the 9th fastest time in the 88 year history of the NSW All Schools Championships finishing the U17s 5000m Walk in 22:58.78.
- 2024, a Sole Stepper broke the 25year old State record for the U11s boys 1100m Walk, taking 7sec off the record to finish in 4:59.
- Gold, Silver and Bronze at LANSW State events
- Gold, Silver and Bronze at ANSW State Juniors
- Combined High School Champion x3, 3000m Walk
- Many Gold, Silver and Bronze: for the winter ANSW State Road Walks Championship Events: Short, Team & Long Walks.
- Coaching an 11 yr old to Silver in the Under 16s 5km State Road Long Walks Championships in 2020.
Other
– Coaching an U9 beginner to break a 26 year old 700m Walk Club record. 4:14.
-Many Club, Zone, Region and State Records have been broken by Sole Steppers Athletes.
Coach Laelia
Acreditations:
Level 1 Youth Coach, Athletics
Swim Australia Swim Instructor
First Aid
Awards:
- 2023 Local Little athletics – Club Captain
- 2023 The Hills Sports High School, Record Breaker Award for U17s 3000m Walk (still current record holder)
- 2022/23 Local Little Athletics Club ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Nominee
- 2021/22 Local Little Athletics Club ‘Athlete Volunteer of the Year’ Nominee
Achievements:
National
2025 National Silver medal in the U12s 2km race walk at the Australian Athletics Road Race Walk Championships. A debut National event for this 10yr old, finishing in 10:07!
About Me:
- Laelia is a 5x National level 3, 5 and 10km track and road race walker.
- She gained her Level 1 Coaching accreditation in 2022, spent years volunteer race walk coaching with her local Little Athletics centre and started coaching with Sole Steppers in early 2025.
- She has gained extensive experience working with children as a Swim Australia qualified Swimming instructor. Trained and equipped to confidently coach children on the spectrum and with ADD or ADHD.
- Laelia has a keen interest in sport, health and athlete development and is currently studying a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science at Uni, with the hope of becoming an Exercise Physiologist or Physiotherapist.
- She has capped her squad of emerging athletes to 5 so they get extensive individual attention and technique correction. Laelia may start a second squad in the near future if studies permit.
- Laelia currently trains as an endurance athlete and regularly competes in the 10,000m Walk at State and National level.
- She has medalled many times at the State level, placed 7th in Australia at Nationals in 2025 and has medalled at the Australian Federation of National Race Walk Clubs National Championships multiple times.
- Like coach Alissa, Laelia focusses on developing correct and consistent technique for her athletes.
- With a patient and understanding approach shaped by personal experience, Laelia is well-equipped to support young athletes through the many challenges of their sporting journey. From injury recovery and training adjustments to managing life balance and navigating common mental health struggles of young athletes, she provides guidance every step of the way.
Join the Sole Steppers Race Walking Community
Supernova World Race Walking Tour 2024, Bronze World level meet, AIS Canberra. Coach Laelia in blue top on the left.