Mikayla qualified for the Under 16 State Cross Country Combined High School championships following a excellent run at Wellington in the regionals.

It was a great effort by the young star considering that she is not involved in athletics unlike many of the other competitors.

The State championships were held at Eastern Creek where Mikayla finished a brave sixth against some of the best runners in the land.

Her placing earned her a qualification for the Under 16 Combined High School Nationals to be held later in the year.

That in itself is pretty amazing, but the big story behind Mikayla's success was that halfway through the four kilometre run, she tripped over, dislocating her knee.

She got, up pushed her knee back in place and then finished the last two kilometres.

When she finished, her knee “blew up” and after seeing a specialist, she was told that she will need surgery to repair the stretched ligaments etc.

“It hurt pretty bad, but when I fell over I looked behind me and saw all these runners starting to catch up.

“I battled the last part of the race out and was never so glad to see a finish line in my life.

“I have to undergo surgery this week and I only hope that it will be mended ready for the nationals.

“This time I will be a little more careful where I am running.”

They say that long distance runners, run through the pain barrier – but this is taking it to new heights.

Mikayla is the daughter of Kelly and Jamie Muir.