"My goal is to represent Australia, I know that's huge and a lot of people say it but I really believe if you put in the work and you give it all you've got, for as much time as you can, you will get there."
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Athletics South West Turbines runner Josh Bail wants to compete in the 5000-metre for Australia and is assembling a team to give him the best chance.
The Warrnambool 16-year-old, who also runs the 3000m and 800m, is being mentored by internationally-accredited coach Phil Molesworth.
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Molesworth has worked with the likes of 400-metre Olympic gold medallist Cathy Freeman.
"It been a fantastic experience, I haven't been a serious runner, it's only been the past three months since getting to know Phil," Bail said,
"Him taking me under his wing and learning the ropes of what running looks like."
The Emmanuel College year 11 student explained Molesworth got him doing 30-kilometres a week to begin with.
It climbed up to 40-50kms per week recently.
"He's got so much wisdom and experience, just to learn and be able to embrace all that is fantastic," the youngster said.
"He's really genuine, really cares about you and wants to check in."
Each week Bail and his training partner Emily Morden submit their running diary entries to Molesworth.
Listen to Phil Molesworth on The Main Break podcast:
They have a kilometre and pace goal each week.
"In the week just gone I ran 45 kilometres and the average pace for the week was 3.50s (minutes)," he said.
Bail added his diary also included other elements besides distance and pace.
"Anything in terms of events that may have restricted me from running for a day; something came up, had work, really bad weather," he said.
Injuries and rest days are also among the aspects Bail writes about.
Molesworth currently lives in Rainbow in the state's north-west so much of the tuition has been via distance during the coronavirus pandemic.
He was in Warrnambool this week to mentor his runners in-person.
Bail joined the Turbines last year for his first summer of athletics.
"What was fantastic, was the experiences I had," he said.
"Going to Ballarat, going to Geelong, running in the Victorian country champs."
Bail claimed silver in the 10000m at the Victorian Country Championships at Geelong in January.
Otherwise, he's played hockey for the Warrnambool Pirates the past three years and represented his school in state cross-country.
Molesworth, who plans to move to Warrnambool, had praise for Morden and Bail when he joined The Standard's The Main Break podcast last week.
"I'm very pleased with Emily and Josh, I think they're going to go places, they're dedicated to it and they'll do okay," he said.
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