NOT unlike most 10-year-olds, Bailley Morrell likes to run around in the mud.
But in contrast to others his age, Morrell’s time slopping about in the dirt has actually paid off as he became a School Sport Victoria (SSV) cross country champion for the boys’ nine to 10 age group last week.
The Beaconhills College – Pakenham campus student stormed home in his two-kilometre race around Bundoora Park on Thursday to clinch his title having to fight it out with the the top five runners in a close finish.
His time of 7.03 minutes was enough to take the title – edging out the rest of the top five finishers by less than two-and-a-half seconds – as well as secure his personal best.
“The race was two kilometres and I felt really nervous and at the end it turned out to be a good race,” Morrell said.
Morrell hopes to break the seven-minute barrier when he heads to nationals with his selection in the SSV TeamVic 10-12-year-old cross country team that will head to Albany, Western Australia, next month to compete for a national title.
“It feels really good (to represent Victoria) and I’m really happy,” Morrell said. “And I’ll try my best to become one (a national champion).”
In the meantime Morrell will resume his mud-hunting ways as one of the top midfielders in Pakenham’s Maroon under-10s team and once the mud dries up, he’ll be on the flat track running his favoured 800m/1500m with Casey Little Athletics Centre.
He wanted to thank his family and give a shout out to his friends Liam, Allan and Jesse for their support.
