Warrnambool Athletics Club's virtual events are attracting some of the south-west's best runners.

Speedster Hynes has been using the COVID-19 lockdown period to ramp up his training.

Hynes, who has been running about 140 kilometres per week, smoked the field in the WAC's 8km virtual time trial that wrapped up on Sunday.

The 23-year-old completed the Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail course in 25.20 minutes.

Hynes, who joined WAC again in the past week, normally races in Athletics Victoria Cross Country and Road Racing (XCR) events.

"It's a shame there's no races but these virtual runs are good," he said.

The talented runner first joined WAC in 2006 but in recent years has been racing in Melbourne most weekends during winter.

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Hynes finished ahead of speedy teenager Zac Norton (28.48) and Sam Edney (29.09).

Rachel Ayres was the fastest female (31.59) followed by Emily Janz (34.43) and Kristie Chiller (34.57).

Hynes, who also won the Surf 'T' Surf and Terang fun run this year, is keen to continue running in WAC virtual events.

The primary school teacher runs every day and usually completes three focused sessions per week.

That's where he works on his race pace, often completing one-kilometre repetitions.

Hynes has been racing with Ballarat Harriers in recent seasons and represents the Ballarat region when he races in the XCR series.

"When I'm up and running, I'm aiming for top 10 positions," he said.

Hynes rates his eighth-place finish at the Burnley Half Marathon (Victorian half-marathon championships) in 2019 as his best success.

He was the sixth Victorian across the line as two athletes were invitational.

The long-distance runner said he didn't expect the XCR series to get going this season because the events usually attracted about 500 participants.

He plans to keep training hard in the meantime.

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