A breakout season for rising athletics star Dash Muir has seen him claim another honour, winning the Victorian Athletics League’s athlete of the year.
Muir, who trains at Williamstown Athletics, was a revelation on the gift scene while having some good performances on the track as well.
The teenager, who is still in year 12, said he was shocked to have claimed the honour of athlete of the year.
“It has gone so quick, so much has happened,” he said. “I had a big appetite to have a good season.
“I wanted to drop some time so I dropped cricket and focused on the 400 metres and pro-running.
“With the season I had, I think they looked at my 400 metres on the track and that kind of got me over the line [to win the award].
“I don’t think it has sunk in how much of a good season I had, it was surreal.”
Muir said he had a good off season heading into the pro-racing events, which resulted in three second places.
While happy with that and starting to get his name out there, Muir knew that he could go even quicker.
“I was in the mix and not getting pulled back [handicapped],” he said. “I refined my start and next thing I’m winning Beachside Gift.
“I won the 70 metres along with that and it gave me huge confidence for Stawell. I was able to lock in Stawell and I was able to relax a little bit and put my head down.”
Qualifying for the Stawell Gift was a big opportunity for Muir, who quickly turned out to be one of the favourites.
He beat Lachlan Kennedy, who would later become the second Australian man to run under 10 seconds for the 100 metres, in the semi finals.
“I was pretty nervous with the draw and sensed it was a huge task,” he said.
“There was a lot of hype around it and all these people had come down. All these runners were getting around me to keep my head up.
“I had to tell myself to look back at the season that I’d had and that I could win and I had confidence that I could do it.”
Muir said making the final at Stawell was a surreal feeling and that he zoned out during the race.
While Muir had success at pro-racing the 400 metres on the track remains his big focus.
He is hoping to qualify for the World under-20 championships next year.
Muir finished third in the under-20 400 metres event at the Victorian state titles earlier this year.
“I want to continue all the distances, but focusing mainly on my 400 metres,” he said.
“I have to be good at 100 metres and 200 metres for the 400 metres.
“I’m back into training now and locked in and motivated to qualify for the world championships.”
Muir said he would likely still look to run some pro-races next season.
While athletics is his main focus at the moment, Muir has another sport he would like to take to a higher level as well.
“I’m playing footy with Spotswood and training with the Western Jets,” he said. “Athletics only goes for six or seven months a year.
“People preparing for the draft have been focused on that, while I was preparing for Stawell. I’m aiming for AFL in a couple of years.
“I’ll stay in athletics and look to continue my good form for the next few years.”
