A Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff member has shown a clean pair of heels to be crowned 2009 world champion long distance mountain runner in her age group. Competing as part of the Australian women’s team in the World Long Course Mountain Marathon 2009, held in Söll, Austria, Ms Colleen Middleton from CSU at Albury-Wodonga was placed first in the 45 to 49 year women’s age group and eighth overall in the women’s section and was a member of the second-placed Australian Women’s team. “It was a terrific experience to stand on the podium as part of the Australian team, and a real thrill to finally cross the finish line after the hard climb up that mountain,” said Ms Middleton, who ran the steep 42 kilometre course high in the Austrian Alps in just over three hours 50 minutes.