FIVE of Tamworth's fastest rising cross country stars are set to mix it up with the state's best at the NSW Cross Country Championships.
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Porscha Ring, Bella Flemming, Abbie Peet, Alice Fahey and Isabella Wall booked their place at the state showcase by excelling at the recent regional championships.
The group will compete in both the two and three kilometre events next month.
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The group's coach Wally Warner said the state championships berth was "reward for effort" for his charges.
"I am extremely proud of these guys and their accomplishments," Warner told the Leader.
"They all train five days a week with me and have really been putting in the hard work to not only succeed at the regional championships, but to succeed at the state championships as well."
A legend of Tamworth athletics, Warner said the group had experienced his tried and tested methods of training over the past few months.
"One thing I'm really big on is having my whole group doing the same things at training," he said.
"I'm a big believer on letting the kids help each other improve and making sure no one gets left behind.
"By training together everyone improves and importantly has fun."
All five of the local hopes will be up against more than 70 other runners from around the state and will compete in the under 10-11 age group.
"I don't like to put pressure on any of my kids, but based on their performance at the regional level - I'm confident they will do well," Warner said.
"Within the group, we had three kids finish first, a second and sixth-place finish.
"It was an amazing result and I was really proud of all of them."
Warner said the group would continue to improve their performances long after the state championships.
"All of my kids have a lot of promise and it is exciting to watch them realise that," he said.
"I'm just so proud of them."