Whanganui athlete Liam Back finds his international benchmark in Paris

Whanganui teenager Liam Back (black) keeps up with the hot pace to finish 15th at the World Secondary Schools Cross Country in Paris earlier this month.

Long-striding Whanganui athlete Liam Back has found his international benchmark after finishing 15th at the ISF World Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships in Paris earlier this month.

The 16-year-old Wanganui Collegiate School Year 12 student, not only finished 15th of athletes representing 33 countries worldwide, he was also the second Kiwi home and the first home of the 2002-born runners competing. And all this in an under 19 race.

Back was one of six males in the Kiwi team and struck form when winning the under 18 3000m, 1500m and the steeplechase at the New Zealand Championships in Hamilton on month before Paris France.

Back stopped the clock at 16m 37s after the 5.5km trip, clocking 15m 05s for the 5000m. His personal best for 5000m at home is 15m 02.9s, although he did not have the extra 500m to run that day.

Normally a front-runner with a high cruising speed, Back attempted to stay with the leading bunch on a cold Paris morning, but lost a wee bit of confidence going through the 3km mark.

"I tried to stay with the leading bunch, but when they called out we'd gone through the 3km mark in 8m 30s, I lost a bit of confidence and lost a bit of ground - that's a hot pace," Back said.

The course took runners through the centre of Paris and under the Eiffel Tower, which Back later toured with his family.

"It was cold, about 8 degress C and quite a technically challenging tight course. We weren't allowed to wear spikes and the course was mainly shellrock with no grass to speak of, so a little bit slippery.

"Overall I was pretty happy with my performance, especially being the second New Zealander home and the fastest of the youngest age group. I had only just turned 16 on January 1 this year and it was an under 19 race."

Back said he had learned from the experience.

"While I was happy with my times, I think if I had stayed a bit more relaxed, especially after going through that 3km mark, I could have run faster."

Coach Alec McNab makes no secret of the high regard he hold Back in and predicts a bright future.

"You can't buy experience and this trip will have done him the world of good," McNab said.

"They were good times for a 16-year-old against older runners and if he chose to stay on another year he could very well be in the New Zealand team again for the world in two years. His bit focus now is the New Zealand Schools Cross Country in Taupo in June.

"If he manages to finish in the top 12, which he should, he is automatically in the New Zealand team to compete in the Australian Schools later in the year."