By RUSSELL BENNETT
RAIN, hail or shine – it seems all Michael Hansford does is win.
The Kooweerup Secondary College year-10 student recently took out the under-16 100, 200, and 400 metre trifecta at the School Sport Victoria (SSV) Secondary Track and Field Championships in Albert Park – following on from wins in the 100 and 200 in the under-15s last year.
He quickly followed this year’s SSV meet with a win in the 100-metres and a third placing in the 200 in the Athletics Victoria All-Schools Track and Field Championships at the same venue.
He’d never even run in an organised meet until 2011 and now he has the state and national titles – early next year – firmly in his sights.
But the conditions were far from perfect for Michael’s perfect SSV run just a couple of weeks ago.
In fact, he won the 400 by about four one-hundredths-of-a-second in pouring rain – just edging ahead of the second-placed finisher, who slipped and fell as he lunged towards the line. Michael, though, helped him up as soon as he’d crossed the line. That’s just the 15-year-old’s nature.
He said he “didn’t really” notice the inclement weather until after his race program had concluded.
“As the day went on, the weather just got worse,” Michael said.
“It started really cold and then it was pouring down rain for the 400.
“Some people like that but I’m not the biggest fan of it, just because of how cold it is.
“You don’t notice it in the run, but the water was sloshing around on the track.”
Michael, from Pakenham, said he is now hungrier to do well in future 200-metre races because of his result at the All-Schools titles.
His competition focus now switches to the state juniors in February, followed by the national titles in March.
“It’s all about putting the hard yards in and worrying about the times later,” said Michael, who is looking into eventually doing a university degree in biology.
While he said his long-term goals at this stage are “nothing too serious”, he did say he desperately wanted a national title.
“I want that national championship and just see where it takes me from there,” he said.
“I plan to go to university but I definitely want to keep my running up – whether it’s full-time competition or just recreational.
“I won’t stop running.”
Michael is coached by Kooweerup Secondary College teacher Gerard Bourke, who has also mentored him through Casey Cardinia Little Athletics.
In a sport known for its bravado and larger-than-life characters, Michael is more down to earth.
He knows practically all of the runners he competes against at state level – they’ve been his opponents throughout the age groups and they’ve formed meaningful friendships through their rivalry.
Still, his competitive instinct burns as bright as it did 12 months ago.
“With updates on the internet, you can check out how the interstate runners are going so you can see what sort of times you’re going to have to beat at the nationals,” he said.
“There are some quick Queenslanders and guys from New South Wales!
“But with the nationals – that’s the one competition where times don’t matter.
“You’re just out there to win.”
