Lachie Townsend is one of the many local competitors taking part in the Athletics NSW Country Championships from Friday and he is banking on the home crowd at Barden Park to help him over the line.
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This edition of the Country Championships marks the first time the event has been held west of the Blue Mountains and the 13-year-old said that could make all the difference.
“It’s better to have it in Dubbo, there’s more cheering and you’ll have your families and relatives and friends helping,” he said.
They get you going and make you run faster. In Sydney there might only be a couple of family and friends but here in Dubbo there will be more community cheering you on.”
The Country Championships start from Friday afternoon, with Townsend kicking off his campaign by taking part in the open-age 5000m.
The long-distance specialist said he was confident without being arrogant about his chances of success at the competition, which begins on Friday afternoon and runs right through to Sunday afternoon, after performing well at the recent Dubbo New Year Carnival.
Townsend won gold in the 1500m, 3000m and 3000m steeplechase at the New Year Carnival, setting new records in each as well.
“I’ve got some competitors in my age group who weren’t at the New Year Carnival so I’ve got more competition,” he said.
“I reckon the 800m will have the most competition. It’s a bit shorter and I’ll need to work on my speed there because I have more endurance so the 800 will be hard.
“I’m looking forward to the 1500 and 3km and 5km as well.”
While the track events are Townsend’s main focus, the up-and-coming talent will also contest the long jump.
The young gun added that would be far more of a relaxed and fun event to be a part of.
“I can have a bit of a fun event with a few mates rather than be just hammering down the whole time,” he said.
Townsend finished second in the state among Combined Catholic school runners last year and 15th overall in the cross country, having been running for roughly three years now.
“I started training a bit after year five and after year six cross country, that’s when I knew I was better than I thought so started training more and have loved it since then,” he said.