Cobden's Emma Smith was part of the Victorian team which took home a silver medal from the Australian walking titles in Canberra. 090609GW07 Pictures: GLEN WATSON Smith in training at the Cobden Recreation Reserve. 090609GW06

WHILE most people in the south-west shivered through yesterday's cold snap it could prove perfect long-term preparation for Cobden walker Emma Smith.

 

Smith, 19, has just returned from the Australian walking titles where she finished 17th of 80 walkers in the five-kilometre event and was part of the Victoria team which took home a silver medal.

 

It's the first steps on a long road that will hopefully lead to Glasgow, Scotland, for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

 

Smith said this was her first year of serious competition and she stepped into the unknown taking on the 5km Australian title at the 43rd Annual Lake Burley Griffin Carnival in Canberra on Sunday.

 

She said her aim had been to break 30 minutes for the race, but she hadn't expected to finish so high in the placings with a time of 29 minutes and 52 seconds.

 

Her previous best for the distance had been 31.10.

 

"I was surprised how well I went. It makes all those training sessions worthwhile," she said.

 

Smith said she trained doing 10-kilometre sessions along the Cobden-Terang Road at 6am to beat the traffic.

 

"Mum takes me out and drops me off - there's no other way home so I have to walk," she said with a laugh.

 

"It's pretty up and down. It's hard coming down the hills and making sure you lock your knees in.

 

"I like walking on the roads. Early on I was walking on a lean and getting sore but I'm building the muscles up."

 

The Cobden District Health Centre personal carer said she aimed to continue juggling her job with work at the Ritchies Supermarket and milking cows.

 

"I want to race in the 10-mile at the Australian titles next year with the long-term aim the 21km at the Commonwealth Games in 2014," Smith said.

 

"When I started I was doing seven minutes a kilometre and now I'm under six. I'll race in the Koroit to Warrnambool half-marathon during August."

 

Smith also regularly competes in Warrnambool Athletics Club events where she is handicapped among the runners for a more solid hit-out.

 

The walker is slowing down in pursuit of athletics achievements.

 

She previously competed in state level cross-country running with her best effort a 10th placing.

 

Warrnambool athletics coach Alan Bryant said Smith was a talented walker and the 2014 Commonwealth Games was a realistic goal.

 

"For Emma to go to Canberra, into the complete unknown and performing so well, was a breakthrough," he said.

 

"Emma first came to me when I was coaching athletics at Cobden Tech. She had been inspired by Jane Saville in the 2000 Olympics and wanted to give walking a go."

 

Bryant said he tapped into a string of walking coaches' knowledge including Port Campbell's Colin Silcock-Delaney, Geelong's Harold Body and Olympic medallist Jared Tallent's coach Daryl Biggin.

 

He said Smith had improved enormously in her first season of serious competition.

 

"Emma's mum Jenny is a great help. She checks off the kilometre marks and if Emma is dropping behind she let's her know pretty quickly," he said.