Ash Watson flies in World Mountain Running Championships

Updated November 2 2012 - 10:33am, first published September 16 2008 - 1:08pm

ASH Watson has exceeded expectations at the World Mountain Running Championships in Switzerland.The Ballarat runner finished 25th in a field of 75 in the 8.4km course that had a rise of 1km."(Ash) was really happy with how he went, he hasn't done a lot of mountain running, it is all fairly new to him," Watson's father Rod said."He was with another Australian from the under-20 team and together they led for the first 3km."Watson went into the competition aiming for a top 30 finish in his first ever international mountain race.After the 3km mark the Australian pair ran out of puff in the thin mountain air and were overtaken by a majority of the field.They recovered to run inside the top 30."He said he finished off really well but it is a huge experience, a totally different type of running," Rod said.Earlier in the year, Watson ran 83rd in the world cross country championships in Scotland.Watson qualified for the mountain race in May after he finished second at the Australian trial in Canberra.He and fellow Victorian Kane Willie were the two Australians selected to run in the race."Ash and Kane have been friends after being competitors for the last 10 years," Rod said."Normally they average about three minutes every kilometre but in the mountains it is about six minutes."Watson is trained by Rod Griffen at the Wendouree Athletics Club as well as being mentored by Steve Moneghetti and Shane Nankervis."Rod sets all the programs but he is lucky enough to train with Mona (Moneghetti) and Shane (Nankervis)," Rod said."Mona quite often does a session with him and has been a really good mentor."Watson will take a month's break in Switzerland before returning home for the start of the Australian track and field season.

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