Junior walker races to the top

YOUNG athlete Fraser Saunder is proud be contributing to Ballarat’s “rich history” of racewalking in a big way.

The Ballarat Grammar year 11 student recently became Australia’s under-18 five-kilometre racewalking champion, competing in New South Wales.

“I was coming off a few five-kilometre personal bests, and so I was hoping to go for an even better PB up there,” he said.

“I got a 15-second PB and the win, so I was happy with that, sitting with the competition for the first few kilometres and then I pulled away in the last couple. It was a good race, and a great feeling.

“In 2019 I got beaten by a Queenslander, so over the past couple of years, I’ve really put in the hard work because I didn’t want that to happen again.”

It was Saunder’s fourth time on-track at Sydney’s Olympic Park; an arena that excites him.

“It’s got relics from the Olympics in 2000, like the old podium is still there, and that gives you a sense of the sort of high-performance you get when you go to an Olympic centre.”

Initially introduced to short-distance events as a nine-year-old at Little Athletics, Saunder has been racewalking for eight years, is a member of Ballarat Racewalking and Ballarat YCW, and is coached by Daryl Biggin.

He’s inspired by the Talent family of local racewalkers and has always enjoyed the “mental challenge” of the endurance sport, as well as the physical side.

“You’re using different muscle groups to running, so it’s quite a big challenge.

“I enjoy putting in a large volume of training, tapering down, feeling fresh on race day and feeling confident,” Saunder said.

His focus is now on improving his times in longer distance events, like the 10-kilometre racewalk, as he moves towards the “under-age and university-aged” World Championship events.