But the sporting prowess of year 9 Glen Innes High School student Matt Campion has taken him just that far. 

Distance runner Campion was selected to take part in the Sports travel Australia Cross Country tour after impressive performances in local, regional and state cross country selection meets.

Campion competed in three events, all in the state of Nevada on the tour and also got to take in some sights while in the USA.

“We went to grand canyon, Hoover Dam, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Hollywood, Tijuana in Mexico, Meteor Crater and the Las Vegas strip,” he said.

The long flight home  and time differential meant Campion missed his birthday but for the distance specialist the experience was well worth it. The year 9 student was proud of his efforts in the tour in which he competed against the top cross country runners from both North and South America.

“It went great, in the first race the UNLV invitational I ran in the varsity race which is the top runners from North and South America,” he said. 

“Out of 169 boys I finished 19th overall in 17 minutes and 43 seconds over five kilometres.”  

“In my age group, freshman sophomore, which is year nine and 10 here I finished fifth.

“In the second race, the Bonnie Springs Ranch invitational I finished 12th out of 84, over five kilometres in 20 minutes and eight seconds, and in my age group I finished third.

“In the third race the Falcon invitational at Foothill High School, which was also the American cross country trials I finished 11th out of 240 runners in 17 minutes and 40 seconds.”

The 5km runs were a step up for the Pinkett youngster having previously competed and trained over 4kms, and with the trip now done and dusted Campion has set his sights on his next goal.

“I’m just going to do all the funs runs including the Glen Gallop and runs in Armidale and Inverell,” he said.

“But next year my goal is to make national cross country.”