By JARROD POTTER
THEY couldn’t hunt down Tynong North’s cross-country champion Ben Kelly.
Standing on the start-line as a marked man, following his time in the Australian colours at the World Cross Country Championships in China earlier this year, Kelly was far too strong in his latest Victorian championship race.
The 18-year-old Kelly, has added another state title to a burgeoning athletics’ trophy case with his triumph at the All Schools Cross Country Championships earlier this month.
The Bundoora hills that disadvantaged so many flat-land runners in the eight-kilometre course benefitted Kelly – who cut his teeth training in the mountainous terrain around West Gippsland.
He flew past the other under-20 runners – representing his beloved Glenhuntly Athletics Club – to clock a 25.51 minutes finish, which stands as a scintillating time across that distance.
“My time was really good, I’ve run 25.20 before, but that was on a pretty flat course… there were a few hills on this one,” Kelly said.
“It was good having the change – was up and down more than it was last year with a few more climbs, so that favoured me – there’s a steep descent, few twists and turns – pretty dry – and it was a beautiful day so it was perfect.”
“To run that time is a three-minute-km pace and I even slowed up in the finishing chute to give some high fives, so it was a great result.”
With his Australian representation fresh in the minds of his competitors and his prior success in state and national races, Kelly was relieved to rattle off the stellar performance when it mattered.
“It was really pleasing to deliver under pressure – obviously got on the start line and people knew there was going to be something big,” Kelly said.
“Finishing school I had all this time to train and there’s a lot of expectation to run well and it was good to get that done.”
It’s no surprise on the back of this result and his world championships performance that Kelly was selected for Athletics Victoria’s BIGV XC team.
Kelly will take on the rest of the nation at Australian Cross Country Championships on Saturday 29 August at Moonee Valley Race Course.
Kelly wanted to thank his club Glenhuntly Athletics Club and sponsors Ron Hill Down Under and Mizuno for their support.
