ALL roads lead to Malta for Ballarat cross country teenagers Courtney Scott and Jack Davies.
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After months of preparation, the 16-year-olds will board a Dubai-bound flight tonight ahead of the World All Schools Cross Country Championships in Malta next Tuesday.
The Rod Griffin-coached runners were announced on the Australian All Schools Cross Country team, made up of only six boys and six girls from Australia, after qualifying at nationals in August.
Training at Llanberris Reserve yesterday, they were looking forward to the opportunity to compete in their first overseas meet with nervous excitement.
In Malta they’ll be competing against the best runners in the world, while representing their country in individual and team events.
“I’m a bit nervous. I don’t know who I’m competing against,” Scott said.
“I’ll just try to do my best.”
It will double as Davies’s first trip outside of Australia and he is looking forward to the experience.
“We’ll do a bit of sightseeing,” he said. “We go to Dubai and Italy as well – that should be alright.”
Both runners have been training hard all season in preparation for the event.
Davies, who will compete in the five kilometre individual race as well as the boys’ relay, attended an 18-day altitude camp earlier this year organised by Olympic-bound distance runner Collis Birmingham.
Meanwhile Scott, who will compete over three kilometres in her individual event and girls’ relay, has stepped up her training regime at home and in Melbourne. Their coach Rod Griffin said preparing the teenagers for a cross country race during track season had come with its challenges.
“Both had to miss national track championships so they could concentrate on cross country,” Griffin said.
“I think it’s a great stepping stone for them. It’s a great way for them to be exposed to international competition at a young age.They’re both pretty excited.”
Scott and Davies have each represented Victoria in track and cross country teams in the past, but representing their country for the first time will be something special for the duo.
“Not many people get to do it,” Davies said.
