Half a year after her first race in October, the 14-year-old clinched under-16 silver by running 7:02 at April's national championships in Sydney.

The time was a 12-second personal best and shaved nine seconds off the state record, and came after a 10th-place finish in the under-16 1500m two days earlier.

"That was a hard race because there were 22 starters in the field so it was a tight start but I got out pretty well and had a good run," Butler said.

"I had a rest on the Tuesday and then Wednesday I went back and competed in the 2000m steeplechase, it had 19 in the field and I went out pretty hard.

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"Dad said to go out hard and get a good start to get a clear water jump and then I just went - I had a girl out the front to push me and a girl behind to push me as well.

"I had a lap to go and I just knew I had to go if I wanted to medal, so I just went and hoped for the best.

"I got a clear jump over all my steeples in the last lap and did it in 7:02."

The performance earned Butler a spot in the state's target talent program, and will see her travel to Western Australia in December to compete in the national all-schools championships.

Until then, the Kings Meadows High student will ease off from training under the guidance of her two coaches - dad Marcus and mum Emma.

Marcus said it was no surprise that his daughter, who is one of triplets, had grown up to love running.

"At 14 months old they did their first Burnie 10s in the pushers - I pushed a double and Emma pushed a single," he said.

"We've been competitive road runners ever since they've been born so it's just normal to go running - we do it because we enjoy it and we want to keep it as a fun thing."

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