Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 15, 1995 TAG: 9509150029
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The easiest way to get to Australia from Southwest Virginia may be by foot.
That certainly was true for three Timesland cross country runners - Brian Porter and Kristy Armbrister of Fort Chiswell and Jeremy Bartley of Alleghany - who were part of a 43,000-person field in the 25th annual Sun-Herald City to Surf race in August in Sydney, Australia.
The three runners were part of a 99-person contingent from the United States invited by the international athletic organization World Sports Exchange to take part in the event. The three were the only representatives from Virginia.
``Seeing all the runners in that race was really spectacular,'' said Bartley, a 17-year-old senior.
The week in Australia was replete with spectacular sights. As grand as the nine-mile race from Sydney to the Pacific Ocean was, many of the trip's highlights had little to do with running.
The trio spent a night in the Outback near the small town of Katoomba. The chill in the air - it's winter in Australia - was more than a little stimulating to the Timesland trio, which was used to the 100-degree temperatures typical in Southwest Virginia in late August.
``I didn't take enough clothes,'' said Armbrister, a 15-year-old sophomore.
Armbrister's memories of the excursion aren't quite as glowing as those of her counterparts because she fell ill during the trip and could not finish the race. Still, her enjoyment of the experience was only mildly tempered. The trip to the Sydney zoo was particularly enlightening.
``I got to hold a real, live koala bear and pet a kangaroo,'' Armbrister said.
Bartley was impressed with a native marsupial made familiar to American youngsters through classic cartoons.
``Yeah, I saw a Tasmanian devil,'' he said. ``It was much uglier than the cartoon, though.''
More alluring was the Australian countryside, especially the Outback.
``It was like looking over the Blue Ridge Mountains before anything was here,'' said Porter, a 15-year-old sophomore. ``Trees, rocks and valleys ... it was one of the prettiest places I've ever been.''
Porter, Armbrister's cousin, said the race course was not as difficult as advertised. Bartley, who finished third among the U.S. contingent, concurred. The cool temperatures - lows dipped into the 30s with highs around 70 - helped.
``It was great weather to run in,'' Bartley said.
The running credentials of the three are impeccable. Porter was second individually in the Mountain Empire District a year ago, Armbrister qualified for the Group A meet as a ninth-grader and Bartley went to the Group AA meet after finishing sixth in Region III last year.
All three had to raise their own money to cover expenses - nearly $2,000 per person. All three got support from family members and local civic groups.
World Sports Exchange is planning another couple of trips for young athletes - first to Great Britain, then to the Bahamas - within the next year.
``If they sent a letter inviting me,'' Porter said, ``I'd consider it.''
by CNB