Cross country campion makes state squad

Campion was selected after running at the NSW all schools competition in Sydney and placing seventh in the under 17 age group and tenth overall in under 18.

Campion now has the reserve spot on the NSW team and is eagerly awaiting a possible call up.

“I am thrilled to be in the squad and happy to get the reserve spot in the team but I’d love to run in the competition,” he said.

“I feel it is a good achievement to have made the squad and now I am hungry for more representative honours and will use this experience to further my career.

“The squad is staying at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra and just the reality of being amongst all those elite athletes will be an experience in itself.”

Campion believes he can still run faster in cross country and is focusing on improving elements of his technique.

“I feel I could enhance my stride during races and that alone would help me gain precious seconds that may mean the difference between winning, placing or finishing out of contention,” he said.

“I also know that I need to work on my head balance and these adjustments to my technique will improve my race outcomes of that I am sure, of course I would not be able to recognise these things were it not for the help of my coach Jay Stone and I owe him a big thanks.

“I am the first junior athlete from Glen Innes to make the state all schools cross country team, an achievement that I am very proud of.”

But Campion said whilst he is happy about getting selected in the state squad he is not resting on his laurels.

“I can’t see this as the be all and end all, I must take it for what it is and that is motivation to get to the next level,” he said.

“I’ll keep working hard, keep listening to my coach and keep aiming for bigger and better things.”

Matt's father Mark said the whole family is pleased with the achievement and will be encouraging him in his athletics endeavours.

“I feel his commitment and dedication to his training has stood in him in good stead,” he said.

“His dedication to his program makes him worthy of selection.”

Glen Innes High School sports coordinator Kirsty Fuller said Campion has dedicated himself admirably to his sport.

“Matt put’s in a lot of hard work and it is good to see that his dedication to cross country has paid off,” she said.

“He is also very good at acknowledging what he needs to do to improve, something young athletes sometimes struggle with.”