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<\/p>\nYOUNG athlete Fraser Saunder is proud be contributing to Ballarat\u2019s \u201crich history\u201d of racewalking in a big way.<\/p>\n
The Ballarat Grammar year 11 student recently became Australia\u2019s under-18 five-kilometre racewalking champion, competing in New South Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was coming off a few five-kilometre personal bests, and so I was hoping to go for an even better PB up there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2019 I got beaten by a Queenslander, so over the past couple of years, I\u2019ve really put in the hard work because I didn\u2019t want that to happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was Saunder\u2019s fourth time on-track at Sydney\u2019s Olympic Park; an arena that excites him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s inspired by the Talent family of local racewalkers and has always enjoyed the \u201cmental challenge\u201d of the endurance sport, as well as the physical side.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re using different muscle groups to running, so it\u2019s quite a big challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoy putting in a large volume of training, tapering down, feeling fresh on race day and feeling confident,\u201d Saunder said.<\/p>\n
His focus is now on improving his times in longer distance events, like the 10-kilometre racewalk, as he moves towards the \u201cunder-age and university-aged\u201d World Championship events.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
YOUNG athlete Fraser Saunder is proud be contributing to Ballarat\u2019s \u201crich history\u201d of racewalking in a big way. The Ballarat Grammar year 11 student recently became Australia\u2019s under-18 five-kilometre racewalking champion, competing in New South Wales. \u201cI was coming off a few five-kilometre personal bests, and so I was hoping to go for an even […]<\/p>\n