Declan ready to give it his all

TORQUAY cross-country runner Declan Farrar has taken on all comers and will continue to hit the ground running later this month when he goes up against the best primary school runners in the nation.

The 10-year-old pupil at Torquay College said he was feeling excited to run at the School Sport Australia Cross Country Championships in Adelaide from August 26-29.

“I never really knew that I could run until my first school cross country, a couple of years ago. After that I started training a bit and it just went from there,” Declan said.

“I’ve been doing running training with Jo [King], which has been really, really good and I also run with my dad.

“I’m nervous and excited to be running at the national championships, but I’m looking forward to meeting Angus [Baker] from Geelong and the other kids in the team, as well as going to Adelaide.”

Declan earned his selection to the Victorian Team after excellent performances leading up to the Australia Cross Country Championships.

He previously placed first in the District Cross Country, first in the Bellarine Division Cross Country Championships, and second in the Western Metropolitan Region Cross Country Championships.

Declan topped it off with a fifth in the 3000m event the State Cross Country Championships.

King, who trains Declan and a handful of other local young athletes throughout the week, said Declan had a promising future ahead.

“He’s a gorgeous boy, a natural athlete and a great sportsman already,” King said.

“It’s going to be an incredible experience for Declan, so he should try to enjoy it as best he can.

“I think he’ll be a contender and I think we’ll see him at a lot more national level events in the future.”