Tara Murray
Keilor St. Bernard’s Athletic Club’s Mitchel Langborne exceeded all his expectations at the recent Oceania Track and Field Championships.
Representing Australia, the Wallan teenager won a medal in the under-20 1500 metres event.
He finished just 0.07 seconds behind the winner, New Zealand’s James Harding.
“It was great,” Langborne said of winning silver.
“I expected to place in the top four but more likely third or fourth. [The] time wasn’t really important as it was a tactical race.”
The championships were the first time that Langborne had made an Australian team.
He said he was very honoured to make the team.
Earlier this year, he made the final of the under-20 1500 metres at the Australian Track and Field Championships, finishing fifth. He also competed in the heats of the 800 metres at the same event.
He finished third in the under-20 1500 at the state titles as well this years.
The word stage is a long way from when he started at Kilmore and District Little Athletics when he was five.
Since then he has risen up the ranks and relies on public transport and his mum to get him between school, training and home.
Langborne, who also runs the 800 metres, said improving his times was his next focus with his running.
Langborne isn’t the only Keilor St. Bernard’s athletes have had some success on the international stage in recent weeks.
Rebecca Bain won bronze in the 4 x 400 metre relay at the Pacific Mini Games in Saipan. She also finished fourth in the 4 x 100 metre relay and fifth in the women’s 100 metre finals.
