Bini on the run to great things
NATIONAL cross country champion Bini James is looking to continue his excellent run when he switches to the track for the school state titles.
The Cairns State High School student is expected to target the 1500m and 3000m at the event in Brisbane next month as his coach encourages him to make the most of a massive natural ability.
Bini claimed the Australian under-16 title last month, despite only training seriously for the past three years.
"He is a very talented runner with enormous potential,’’ coach Neville Appleby, of Cairns Road Runners, said.
"You have got to have that mental drive and the capacity to go for it – and he just loves it, he runs for the pure joy of running."
Bini came third in the under-16s at last year’s nationals, but was thrilled to take gold in 2010.
"It was a pretty amazing experience, even beyond what I was hoping for," Bini said. "The course was very quick, but very sharp hills and very muddy.
"Next year I would like to make the world championships."
Although Bini admits cross country is his first love, his coach believes that raw talent will translate well to distance running on the track.
"He is a born distance runner and he could go on to run 10,000m on the track or even marathons in the future," Appleby said.
Anyone of any age who is interested in joining the Cairns Road Runners can visit their website at
www.roadrunners.org.au.
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Running man: Bini James won the national cross country title in Brisbane and is now eyeing the track. Picture: SEAN DAVEY
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