Cara Feain-Ryan (born 5 February 1999) is an Australian steeplechase runner. She was the gold medalist over 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2023 World University Games, and her best of 9:29.60 ranks her 6th all-time amongst Australians.
Career Feain-Ryan began running in regional youth competitions as early as 2013, participating in cross country running and winning the national U18 2000 metres steeplechase title. She first represented Australia at the 2022 Oceania Athletics Championships, where she won a silver medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase. She later qualified for her first global championship at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, where she finished 11th in her heat and did not qualify for the finals.
At the 2021 Summer World University Games (postponed to 2023), Feain-Ryan kicked in the final lap of the 3000 m steeplechase to win her first international gold medal. She won her first senior national title at the 2023 Australian Athletics Championships, qualifying her to represent Australia again at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. At the world championships, she finished 7th in her heat and did not advance to the finals.
Personal life Feain-Ryan grew up in Alstonville, New South Wales, Australia. Her mother supports her athletic career, as her father died of brain cancer in 2008. In 2015, she moved from Lismore, New South Wales, to Brisbane, where she trains with Genevieve Gregson.
She received a sports scholarship at the University of Queensland, where she studied speech pathology. She struggled with injuries during her early university career. Feain-Ryan is now coached professionally by Ben Norton, and she also coaches youth cross country and middle-distance running at Moreton Bay College. Feain-Ryan struggled with funding her career, telling the Sydney Morning-Herald that the Australian governing bodies did not adequately support her.
Her cousin is Matt Ryan, Olympic medalist in rowing.
Statistics Personal best progression + 3000m Steeplechase progression # Mark Competition Venue Date 1 10:46.25 Queensland Junior Championships Brisbane, Australia 2 10:35.30 Sally Pearson Shield at QSAC Brisbane, Australia 3 10:32.20 Coles Queensland Athletics Championships Brisbane, Australia 4 10:28.16 Brisbane, Australia 5 10:19.01 Queensland Athletics Championships Brisbane, Australia 6 9:55.79 Coles Summer Super Series Canberra, Australia 7 9:38.39 Australian Athletics Championships Sydney, Australia 8 9:36.35 Festival Of Athletics Townsville, Australia 9 9:29.60 7th World Athletics Championships Budapest, Hungary
References
External links
Cara Feain-Ryan at Australian Athletics Cara Feain-Ryan at Australian Athletics Historical Results
Cara Feain-Ryan at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics (archived, alternate link)