Teenage running sensation Josh Torley dominated the Orange Running Festival winning both the half marathon and five kilometre events and finishing fourth in the 10 kilometre race.
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Torley, 18, from Canberra started his day at 6.30am on Sunday.
By 10.45am he had run 36 kilometres and had a broad grin after competing in three of the four events.
“Pretty good, I was lucky enough to have a cruisy race,” he said about the 21.1-kilometre Athlete’s Foot Half Marathon.
“It was a bit muggy out there,” he said.
“It was really humid, a bit of a sweat.
“I’m backing up to the do 10 [kilometre] and the five today.”
Torley was just over a minute ahead of second placed Tom Middleton [1:14.08] with Matthew Whitaker third in 1:15.25.
About 90 minutes after finishing the half marathon Torley led early in the 10 kilometre race.
He said it was the toughest of the three events.
“At the beginning I went out and led the first kilometre.
“But once I had got to the three kilometres it cooked me.”
Torley finished fourth in 33 minutes and eight seconds – about two minutes behind the winner Rorey Hunter.
He said he decided to continue with the five kilometre event.
“I got there and decided I’ll go for it,” he said.
Again Torley led early and was pressed all the way by Arron Parker.
Torley won in a time of 15 minutes and 18 seconds with Parker just three seconds back after the pair sprinted to the finish line.
“He was obviously hunting me down,” Torley said.
He said running styles for the half marathon and five kilometre races should be different but he maintained the same style.
“Generally yes, but I ran the same, I just shuffle,” he said.
Torley said he had not run the three events together before.
“I’ve done it [the 36 kilometre total distance] in training straight but it’s a little bit faster with the races,” he said.
He said he would be running in the Optus Regional Distance Running Championships.
The 10 kilometre race was a qualifying event for that championship.
Other rounds are being held in Bathurst, Dubbo, Mudgee, Forbes and Carcoar.
The winners will share in a $10,000 prize pool.
Alana Plymin of Sydney won the female section of the half marathon.
She completed the course in 1:25.22 ahead of Danielle Hart [1:32.32] and Georgie McBride [1:33.37].
“It was hard, it was pretty humid, I was no where near my PB [personal best],” Plymin said.