Warrnambool runner Zac Norton has his sights set on running for an American college track team.
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The speedy 16-year-old knows of others who have had that experience and believes it's an opportunity not to be missed.
He wants to be part of "a really big team environment" with more racing and coaches.
Norton could find himself part of the world-famous National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) with thousands of scholarships up for grabs.
Nearly half a million athletes make up the 19,500 teams competing in NCAA sports.
Norton is looking forward to the prospect of racing on both indoor and outdoor tracks.
He's yet to be exposed to indoor racing.
The teenager, who is coached by Graeme Watkins, has shown plenty of promise.
He qualified for the 1500 metres, 3000m and 2km steeplechase at this year's Australian Junior Track and Field Championships.
That event was scheduled for March but was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"Eight days out they called it off, which was really sad because I'd put a lot of work into qualifying," he said.
A school trip to central Australia meant he also missed the national championships in 2019.
His form had been strong leading up to the 2020 edition.
In November 2019 he ran third in the under 17 1500m at the Victorian All Schools championships.
He followed that up with silver in the under 18 3000m and bronze in the under 18 2km steeplechase at the Victorian Country Championships in January.
The youngster also claimed third in Warrnambool's Surf 'T' Surf 6km race in January with a time of 20.18 minutes.
He's also coming off a strong summer with Geelong Guild in the Athletics Victoria Shield League.
Norton doesn't necessarily have a pet event and enjoys the 3000m, 2km steeplechase and 1500 metres.
"If I get a pb in one of them then it becomes my favourite," he said.
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The Geelong College boarder would also be competing in Associated Public Schools (APS) sports if it weren't for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Xavier College, Scotch College and Caulfied Grammar School are among the other ten APS members.
They are often known for fostering AFL talent such as 2019 number one pick Matt Rowell (Carey Grammar).
Norton, a year 11 student, said APS sport provided great competition.
"When I'm at APS, they've got a lot of runners that run at nationals as well," he said.
The multi-talented sportsman plays tennis in summer and term three is dedicated to athletics.
If it weren't for the lockdown restrictions, he'd be competing in APS cross country races right now.
But the 16-year-old is appreciating the positives of being back home in Warrnambool.
"It's been good to be home, to be with my family which I don't often get to do," he said.
"And my dog, Daisy."
The distance runner started boarding at Geelong College in Year 7.
"It's been awesome," he said.
"My older brother (James) was there for the first two years so that made it easier to settle in."
Norton moved back to Warrnambool just before the term one school holidays started and he's completing school work online.
He's also remaining dedicated to his athletics and participating in virtual strength and conditioning training with The Injury Clinic in Geelong.
The fleet-footed youngster is also clocking up about about 75km per week.
His immediate goal is to qualify for the cross country national championships.
The Athletics Victoria cross country and road racing season would usually run from April to September but it's been suspended until at least May 31 due to the pandemic.
In the meantime, Norton has rejoined the Warrnambool Athletics Club and he recorded the fastest time (21.05 minutes) in the club's recent virtual handicap race.
The young gun managed to edge out speedster Sam Edney who finished with a time of 21.33.
Otherwise, Norton would normally compete in the club's 5km summer series during school holidays - a series he's had success in.
Norton said he was pleased the athletics club was hosting virtual events because it gave him him the opportunity to test himself.
He braved the inclement weather on Saturday and was happy with his time.
"It's was good, it was a really windy day and really cold," he said.
"I'm pretty happy to be averaging three minutes thirty on a pretty bad day.
"It's always much harder not running with others."
The teenager previously ran in WAC events, with his dad Marcus, when he was in primary school.
It was back then he became inspired by a Warrnambool runner just a few years older than himself.
"My idol was Tom Hynes," he said.
"He was a big reason why I wanted to run.
"Just seeing him out and about running, I just wanted get out there and be like him."
Hynes won this year's Surf 'T' Surf 10km run in 32.03 minutes.
It was his first victory after 12 attempts.
WAC will wait for clarity on coronavirus restrictions before declaring its next event.
President Ash Ansell said he would wait until May 11 before releasing details of its race scheduled for Sunday May 31.
Victoria's state of emergency is due to expire on May 11 and stage three restrictions could be relaxed.
It may mean athletes are able to run together rather than individually.
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