A LOCAL runner is celebrating a personal best after taking a first-place win in the ninth round of Athletics Victoria\u2019s XCR Series earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Competing in the Burnley Half-Marathon\u2019s under 20 men\u2019s category, Ben Mornane won the top spot in the five-kilometre event with a time of 15 minutes and 10 seconds.<\/p>\n
He said it\u2019s exciting to have a new record to aspire towards.<\/p>\n
\u201cI almost shocked myself a little bit with the win,\u201d he said \u201cIt\u2019s a very nice feeling to have a new personal best.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was actually sitting in fourth for most of the race. It was only the last 200 metres where I was able to pass the others and it was right on the line.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is definitely a highlight of the season for me. In the same series I managed to win the 10-kilometre run at Albert Park so I\u2019m really happy with both those performances.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mornane received his previous personal best during last year\u2019s XCR Series, also at Burnley, with a recording of about 15 minutes and 30 seconds.<\/p>\n
A member of Eureka Athletics and competing through the Ballarat Regional Athletic Centre, Mornane trains with former national junior running coach Rod Griffin.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s been running since he was around seven years old after being encouraged by a friend to join him for a lap around Lake Wendouree.<\/p>\n
Following his Burnley win, Mornane said he already has his next races front of mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m eyeing off track season right now and looking to run the three and the five-kilometre on track runs in Adelaide,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m hoping to run the nationals next year around March.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m running six to seven days a week and doing sessions three days a week. I run about 70 to 80 kilometres each week.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ballarat Regional Athletic Centre\u2019s under 14 men\u2019s group also won the top spot in Burnley\u2019s teams event.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A LOCAL runner is celebrating a personal best after taking a first-place win in the ninth round of Athletics Victoria\u2019s XCR Series earlier this month. Competing in the Burnley Half-Marathon\u2019s under 20 men\u2019s category, Ben Mornane won the top spot in the five-kilometre event with a time of 15 minutes and 10 seconds. He said […]<\/p>\n