Mikayla also happens to be the Australian orienteering champion in all three disciplines – sprint, middle-distance and long-course – after winning those events in her age group at the national titles in Perth this month, and the West Australian state title as a warm-up.

Her younger sister, Erika, who turns eight next month, was runner-up to Mikayla in the girls’ 10 years Australian middle-distance and long-course races, finished third in the sprint and fourth in the West Australian event.

A year 4 student at Valentine Public School, Mikayla said she had become interested in orienteering by watching her parents, multi-sport athletes Damien and Jenny, train and compete at regional, state and national events for as long as she could remember.

‘‘I like getting the different maps for each race, and I like navigating around the courses with a compass and a map,’’ Mikayla said.

For those unfamiliar with the rules of orienteering, Mikayla provides an effective explanation.

‘‘We run in the bush with a map and a compass, and you have to put your ‘SI stick’, which has a timing chip, into these control holes,’’ she said. ‘‘That records your time, then you keep on going to the finish, and the fastest time wins.’’

Mikayla said she wanted to continue competing for as long as she can.

The sisters’ next major event will be the Oceania championship in Tasmania in January, where Mikayla will progress to the 12 years division, leaving Erika to continue in the age group below.

‘‘They’re both doing really well with their orienteering,’’ Jenny said. ‘‘We’re pretty amazed and really happy with everything that they’re doing.’’

The national championships were held in Perth between September 27 and October 5, and the girls encountered kangaroos, cows and other forms of wildlife around the various courses.

‘‘Their first race was the Western Australian championships, which were held in terrible conditions,’’ Jenny said. ‘‘The start was on a hill in an open farm area with the wind howling, pouring rain and a very cold 13 degrees. The girls ran in their raincoats, which was a good idea to keep warm.

‘‘The following day was the Australian middle-distance championships, and the weather was a lot better with an occasional shower but around 20 degrees – perfect conditions for a race.

‘‘Erika started before her big sister and was in the lead until Mikayla finished in a super-fast time of 12 minutes, 54 seconds to win, but Erika placed second in her first podium finish at an Australian orienteering championships.

‘‘Erika was first starter for the sprint distance, and the course was very difficult through the buildings, parks and gardens all around Curtin University.

‘‘Mikayla started mid-field and blitzed the course in a time of 19.33 to win by over six minutes, and Erika had another great race to finish on the podium again in third.’’

After a four-day rest to prepare for the national long-course championship, Mikayla proved too strong again.

Starting last, Erika caught all but one rival – her sister – to finish second.

‘‘People think you just walk around, but you have to run.’’

Although it is not recognised as a mainstream sport, Jenny said she had taught orienteering as part of the ‘‘active after-schools’’ program for the past five years and it was well received by students.

Jenny said Newcastle Orienteering Club conducted street orienteering races every Wednesday during summer, held a four-race park series in February, then in winter ‘‘we head to the bush’’.

More information is available at the club’s website, newcastleorienteering.asn.au, and Jenny said the club welcomed all new participants.