On front foot

By Casey Neill
FORMER Montrose Primary School student Ryan Patterson is off and running towards Olympic success.
The 12-year-old was earlier this year among 44 primary and secondary school students recognised in the 16th annual Victorian School Sports awards for outstanding achievements.
Ryan’s sports teacher Claire Knell nominated him for the cross-country award following his success in the 3km primary schools event.
He last year won the district, zone and state titles and finished second in the national contest.
Craig Mottram is his idol and the Olympics are his goal.
Ryan’s commitment to the sport saw him miss the award presentation ceremony in March.
The Lilydale High School student’s grandparents accepted the honour on his behalf while he competed in the Australian Youth Championships in Sydney.
There he won a bronze medal in the under-14s’ 1500m event and finished fifth in the 800m.
His brothers Josh, 16, and Zak, 14, also competed at the meet and have helped Ryan improve his racing.
“They did a lot of work with him last year on hills, getting him to run harder up hills and that seemed to pay off when he ran at the nationals,” mum Sue said.
Ryan also excelled at this year’s State Little Athletics Championships, taking out the under-12 800m, 400m and 1500m races.
Ryan was introduced to cross-country after he started little athletics at age six and hasn’t looked back.
“I just like it,” he said.
He competes for Lilydale and Yarra Ranges Little Athletics Club and is also a Croydon Athletic Club member.
He now trains Tuesday and Thursday nights with a coach who approached him and his brothers at the nationals.
“Hopefully with a bit of training he might up the ante a bit,” Ms Patterson said.