By Alex Malcolm

WA teenagers Ethan Heywood and Joshua Tedesco have been selected in a 17-strong Australian cross-country squad to compete at the World Championships in March.

The pair finished third and fourth respectively in the Under 20 8km National trial at Brimbank Park in Victoria to win a place on the plane to Bydgoszcz, Poland, alongside former World Cross country champion Benita Willis (nee Johnson) and Australian Men’s champion Collis Birmingham.

The 17-year-old Heywood, who will this year begin a Law/Economics degree at the University of Western Australia, and the 18-year-old Tedesco, an apprentice cabinet maker, produced their stunning performances at Brimbank after a training camp at high altitude in Falls Creek. Their coach Paul Heywood was extremely pleased with their performance.

“The boys ran really well. The course was relatively flat but technically challenging with turns and the junior men's competition is always a high standard these days so the performances of the WA boys were very good indeed,” Paul Heywood said.

The coach had four runners in the National trial, with Chris Dale finishing 7^th and Daniel Barnard running 16^th. But Heywood, the father of Ethan, was immensely proud of the performances of all of his chargers.

“Obviously as a father in respect to Ethan but as a coach I am so proud of both boys who work very hard, as I am proud of the whole group of athletes I coach, each one of whom continually amaze me with their commitment to this sport.  I am aware of the significance to WA of having two athletes in an Australian team in such a prestigious distance running event but the two boys have shown that it is possible for WA distance runners to compete at this level and let's hope there is more to come,” he said.

For Ethan Heywood and Tedesco, their selection is merely the culmination of a golden summer today. Both boys have run personal bests over 1500m and 5000m on the track. Times of 3.53 and 3.54 has made them competitive in Interclub meets at the WA Athletics stadium, whilst Heywood’s 14.37.08 placed him 11^th at the Victorian Championships.

But the World Championships in Poland will pose a far greater challenger then either has ever faced previously. Apart from Benita Willis’ extraordinary victory in the 2004 Championships, no other Australian has ever medalled in the annual event.

To make matters worse, Poland in March could provide conditions as far removed from a Perth summer as anywhere on the planet.

“Poland (in) March could be snow but I'm told it could also be warm.  Most likely it will be cold and wet so we have to be prepared mentally for that prospect.  Given the shortage of time and facilities that's not easy and Perth isn't likely to give us that in terms of weather.  What we will have to do is concentrate on the training aspect with the intention of having the boys at their strongest aerobic condition possible.  We are not really changing the training we have been doing (except) that we will introduce some more 5km pace work,” Paul Heywood explained.

The boys will run 5km races at the Briggs Classic in Hobart and the Australian U20 Championships in Sydney as part of their preparation for Bydgoszcz. But Heywood senior is realistic about their chances.

“It will be very tough, not just because of the quality of the Africans per se but because of the quality in depth throughout all the competing nations.  The importance in my view to the boys in attending Poland is to gain an experience of international competition in an environment that is unique, an experience that will stand them in good stead for the future.”

Still it is a remarkable achievement to make a World Championship team, and no doubt both young men will represent their state and country with great pride.