"I felt really stink. I trained so hard and it didn't work out. Kind of put me off too," she said.
"Sensei (Craig Nordstrand) told me three weeks ago that I could appeal and he wrote up a letter for me and we sent it in. I was training hard out for the tournament because we thought if I won they might put me on the team."
Last week Karate NZ met and reviewed Tana's appeal and her performance over the year, adding her to the team for the major competition.
Tana then vindicated her late selection with a sterling performance at the Auckland Open, clinching three gold medals.
It has been a top year for the Whangarei teenager as she has consistently performed at the highest level.
Tana won gold in the under-21 age group at the Australian Open and silver in the women's 68+kg at the same event.
These wins were backed up by a strong performance at the Christchurch Open before the stomach bug felled her.
Tana has added an hour's fitness training every day in addition to her normal weekly programme of six and a half hours of karate training a week as she prepares for the biggest competition of her life.
Coach Craig Nordstrand has also been named as a coach for the Karate NZ team and will be travelling to Spain with the students.
Nordstrand said the selection of Sear and Tana continues a rich and strong tradition at Miyagi Kan Club.
"Miyagi Kan Club has a strong record in kumite (fighting), with kids from our clubs having represented NZ every year for the past 22 years," he said.
The club has had a successful run in recent times as Tana and Sear joined clubmates Kingi Tana, Imogen Ear and D'Artagnan Gould representing New Zealand at the Oceania Championships last year.
As a team coach, Karate NZ provides partial payment for Nordstrand's flight costs. However, the two students need to fully fund their own trips.
Anyone who would like to help these students get to Spain can contribute on their Givealittle page "Miyagi Kan Champs".
