Western Athletics youngster Daniel Dunstone will use his victory in the junior boys section of the Lorne Mountain to Surf as a launching pad for a big first quarter of the year.
Dunstone overcame heavy rain and a bout of nerves to finish this month’s eight-kilometre fun run eighth overall and first in his section.
He covered the undulating course in a time of 25 minutes 17.2 seconds, finishing ahead of Bacchus Marsh’s Lucas Shugg (26:23.5) and Sandringham’s Corey Rich (27:17.9).
“I’m thrilled,” Dunstone told Star Weekly.
“Good race, good time, good place as well. It was enjoyable, but it was a tough race.”
Dunstone, who lives in Seabrook, worked overtime in the lead-up.
He ran upwards of 100km a week, taking in some of his favourite running spots at Altona Hill, Truganina Park and the You Yangs.
Veteran Western Athletics coach Peter Burke has been by his side since 2009. Dunstone’s dad, Phil, who is the club’s cross-country team manager, said Burke sometimes has to rein in his son’s enthusiasm.
Dunstone jnr says his love of running leads him to overdo it on occasions. “Sometimes I do too many k’s without realising.”
Burke is sure to have Dunstone on strict kilometre counts in the coming weeks.
Dunstone needs to be at his peak for the world cross-country selection trials in Canberra on February 8. The 17-year-old is considered a great chance to make Australia’s under-20 team for the IAAF world cross-country championships in China in March.
“They can only select five, so if I come in the top five, they’ll select me,” he said.
“I’ve been training consistently. There’s no mistake I’ve made with it. I’m ready.”
