The last, of course, sums up Aussie reaction to the fall which cost Sally Pearson US$40,000 and an undefeated season.

There were highlights aplenty around the letter ‘B’ without having to worry about the other 25 letters of the alphabet.

The main questions were: Bekele – back or B-A-C-K; Blake – wow! Did he really run that; and Bolt – can he beat Blake at London 2012 once his younger colleague has another year’s development.

Like everybody else, I was initially flummoxed as to how Kenenisa Bekele could run a world-lead 26:43.16 in Brussels just 19 days after stepping off the track 15 laps into the world championships 10,000 metres in Daegu.

It didn’t seem possible, even for one professing the ‘winning is everything’ ethos of Bekele. Indeed, so strongly does the Ethiopian superstar hold to that belief that he re-defined his ‘loss’ in Daegu.

“I don't count it a as a defeat because I didn't finish the race; I still feel I have a 100% record at 10,000m,” Bekele said at a pre-Brussels press conference. “I know that I went there (Daegu) without a lot of good training behind me but I went because sometimes surprises can happen.”

Given that he said much the same thing when Zersenay Tadese snapped his string of consecutive world cross-country titles in Mombasa in 2007 (Bekele also failed to finish there), we can only conclude that ‘King Kenny’ processes both oxygen and thought in a profoundly different way to the rest of us.

(Declaration of interest here: I’ve got to go with the (majority) view that a ‘dnf’ counts as a loss. One of my few claims to fame is undefeated records over both Waldemar Cierpinski (2-0) at marathon and Miruts Yifter (1-0) at half-marathon.

Looking for a possible answer, I went back to my race notes from the Daegu 10,000. The pace for the first 5000 metres was 13:52.51 – with pretty well no variation other than a 61.56 fourth lap from Tadese when he first took the lead and a sub-65 twelfth lap after the pace had dropped to 67s again.

Even that second surge had an impact on Bekele who was running in the pack, but a little further back than you would expect. He eventually covered it, but only after allowing a little gap to develop which he then had to work hard to close. The very next surge – a 63.73 fifteenth lap led by who else but Tadese – prompted his early exit.

Now, I didn’t see the Brussels race live, but I suspect it was even-paced. For a start, Tadese wasn’t in it; for another thing, it was paced, and rabbits don’t get their carrots if the pace is all over the place.

The splits – 13:26.63/13:16.53 - reflect this. Taking out the last lap – around 57 seconds – it was basically 24 laps at 64.5, followed by a sprint home.

This could explain Bekele’s seemingly inexplicable improvement from Daegu to Brussels. Our view of the world championships race was coloured by several factors and assumptions chiefly that Bekele wouldn’t be there if he were not capable of winning; that he came in with an undefeated record at the distance, including four world championships and two Olympic titles; and that he was the world record holder.

Stripped of those assumptions, did we really see anything in Daegu to suggest he could not have run 25 laps at 64-65 seconds per lap. Conversely, did we see anything in Brussels to suggest he is again capable of running the sort of race he could not 19 days earlier.

That is why it might be safe to say Kenenisa Bekele is back, if not yet B-A-C-K. Given the incentive of an unprecedented third Olympic gold medal at the distance, though, he may well be by July next year.

Yohan Blake’s triumph in the 100 metres in Daegu was inevitably diminished by the disqualification of Usain Bolt. Given Bolt had won the two previous global championships in world records, that is hardly surprising.

Blake’s 19.26 over 200 in Brussels, however, upstaged everything else including Bekele and Bolt’s world lead 9.76 in the 100.

A few points, however. First, Blake chose the favourable lane seven in light of his self-professed difficulty on the bend – “I’m not a good turner,” as he put it. He’ll either need to become a ‘good turner’ or get used to a tighter lane if he is to challenge Bolt in London. The only way he will get lane seven in a championship final is if he engineers his way into the slower four qualifiers.

Second, conditions may have been helpful. The tailwind was 0.7 metres per second, but that is in the straight. It may have been stronger on the bend (equally, it may not!).

Third, Walter Dix was second in both races. The American finished 0.30 behind Bolt at the world championships, but only 0.26 behind Blake. He ran 19.70 in Daegu, 19.53 in Brussels. Give Bolt the 0.30 margin over Dix in Brussels and he ‘runs’ 19.23. So, all things being equal, Bolt remains ahead of Blake – but only just.

The stage has been set for an exciting match-up between training partners Bolt and Blake in London – not to mention at the Jamaican championships some weeks before that. It is to be hoped Bolt v Blake v Powell v ‘the rest of Jamaica’ does not follow the same path as Bolt v Gay v Powell.

Ninove: 100m dames (A-Race) from Losse Veter on Vimeo.

Ninove: 400m dames (A-Race) from Losse Veter on Vimeo.

“Life’s challenges are not suppose to paralyse you, they’re suppose to help discover who you are.”

Bonjour!

The 7^th IAAF World Youth Championships in Lille, France 6^th-10^th July 2011 was a marvellous experience! I went with a great group of talented athletes and managers; we bonded so well as a team. Some came back with medals, some with personal bests and others with a great international experience and fantastic memories. It was definitely a great learning curve for me; I increased my knowledge about international travel, what to expect and be prepared for.

The trip began with a 23-hour flight to France. We all wore our compression tights and socks and got up every 2 hours to stretch and walk around. It was a lot of fun getting up and having a chat to everyone. Stopping in Bangkok gave us a break to walk on land. Most of us did a jog and sat with our legs up a wall to help with blood flow. The airport in Bangkok was amazing; the structure was like none we’d ever seen.

The long flight from Bangkok to Paris took 13 hours, it was expected that we should sleep on that flight however some struggled, especially the people in the middle seat with nothing to lean on. I was lucky to be next to the window and got around 5 hours sleep. Seeing the Eiffel Tower from my window was the moment I knew I was in France, I couldn’t help but scream! It was like a dream come true. Everything I’d trained for, everything I’d been excited about… was happening now and the next few days ahead and everything had gone to plan until then. I was jumping out of my skin excited!

Looking back, arriving in Paris and travelling to our accommodation was one of the most exciting memories. Looking out of the windows of the bus and seeing for the first time the amazingly picturesque, cobblestoned streets and antique, and historical architecture was like something from a fairy-tale. The amount of lively café’s, boutiques and patisseries on the streets amazed me the most! When we arrived at our accommodation, Lille was beautiful. Some of the streets were secluded but most of the town was historical and full of ancient charm.

We stayed at the Ibis hotel; our room was, as the French would say it, ‘petite’ as most accommodation is in France. There was enough room for 2 parallel beds. The bathroom was also extremely small. Taking a positive approach was the key. It was very hygienic and wasn't too far from the athletics track and the view of Lille from the window was awesome, it was central to a shopping centre. The Italian and Finish athletic teams were also staying in the same accommodation.

It was an enjoyable first day, until about 5pm when we all started feeling a bit dizzy and very tired. France had a time difference of 8 hours so it was definitely different to anything most of us had experienced before.

The next couple of days didn't go so well for me personally. I had boarded the plane with a bit of a sore throat that I thought I could handle. But unfortunately I developed a sore throat and my fellow roommate wasn't well either. I did everything to try and get rid of it. The team doctor instructed me to have antibiotics, codral and pandaol to try and get rid of it as soon as possible. I was pretty disappointed that I had prepared so well for the championships, and did everything in my power to stay healthy, but I knew I had to stay positive and continue to believe that my preparation would hold me through the heat.

The whole Australian team thoroughly enjoyed Lille. Many walked around the streets, shopping when we had spare time and looking at the beautiful little town to fill in time, I had to stay in my room, out of the wind to try and get better. Getting out in the fresh air occasionally was important though, and taking a trip to subway or the grocery shop made the time more interesting. It was so fun trying to talk to the French people, and finally the last 3 years of learning French was coming into practice! We also visited a war memorial where 2,000 Australians had died in war, supporting France; it was so nice to learn a bit about our involvement in the war.  

The first day of competition came around so fast, and in no time I found myself on the start line of the heat of my first international race ever. Unfortunately I wasn't feeling any better for the race, but mentally I was telling myself I felt fine. One of my favourite quotes is “once you’re beaten mentally, you might as well not even go to the staring line” so no matter what I felt like physically, mentally I was 100%. From the day before the race, I had to pretend I was healthy to feel ready for the challenge I had been waiting for. Everything I had trained for, this was payday. No matter what it took, I was going to qualify for the final of the 1500m.

I felt quite tired from the medication I had been having, but I kept motivated by listening to pump up music and pouring lots of water over my head. I was in heat 1 of 2 heats. I thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of being at such a prestigious race but just wished I were 100% well. Nerves rushed through me on the day, on the way to the track, at the warm up and at the call room, but once I got on the Lille Metropole awesome blue track all my nerves just left me. I had been imagining this moment for so long, looking up at the massive, overcrowded stadium, running hard and strong so it didn't feel like anything new. I felt good lining up next to the best in the world, knowing that 1 year ago I would never have dreamt to get this far.

The race started, and my coach had told me to play it safe and tuck into the race in 2^nd or 3^rd position, I didn't want to push the pace faster than it had to be. Once I got out there it surprised me that the race went out so slow, 56seconds for the first 300m. But at the 600m mark, it suddenly picked up. The next 2 laps was sort of a blur, I was just running. Looking back, it reminds me of a quote I love. “The gun goes off, everything changes… the world changes… and nothing else really matters.” All I was really thinking about was making it to the final, getting in that top 4.

The Kenyan and Ethiopian got a gap and I found myself struggling through the last 200m. At the finish line, looking up at the time I’d run, I was quite disappointed, I felt like I’d ran so much faster. My mum and dad were very supportive and assured me that I’d got a place through to the final, and no matter what I thought, I’d given it my all so that's all that mattered. Between my heat and final I had 2 days to try and get better. I trained lightly, watched fellow athletes and rested.

My 1500m final came around quite fast. From the moment I woke up that day, I remained positive and was determined to put in 100% no matter what. I knew the race could be a once in a lifetime experience, so even though I wasn't feeling 100% going into it, I knew I had to make the most of the opportunity and just go for it. So I started strongly, at a pace I felt comfortable at. I never feel comfortable starting slow, but I know with more experience, it could be an option. The first 2 laps were ideal, but the last lap and half didn't go to plan. I started feeling heavy in the legs and couldn't go with the leading pack. The last lap I felt horrible but continued to give it my all.

I ended the race in 11^th position, and was very disappointed at first. I must admit I did shed a tear, because immediately after the race I really hoped that I could’ve done better, I knew I was better than that. My family, my coach, Nicky and the other managers were comforting and made me realise that it was only the start of my journey and my first international experience. Of course, getting a flu and not racing my best was very disappointing but it was the climb, how far I’d come that really mattered.

On reflection, I realised that it was an achievement to get that far, and even though I didn't reach my personal goal, I knew I’d done my best on the day. Racing at the World Youth Championships was a challenge, a challenge to put everything behind me, like my flu, and just give it a shot. So I look back at the race with this quote, “Life’s challenges are not suppose to paralyse you, they’re suppose to help discover who you are.”

The next 3 days of competition were fantastic for The Australian Team; there were many exciting results. The athletes who headed home with medals included Jake Stein with a gold as well as a World Youth Octathlon Record! Golly, that event would be hard! It was good to see an Australian win a World Youth medal; it made the rest of us athletes motivated to give it our best shot too! Liz Parnov placed 2^nd in the pole vault, and her final was on right before my 1500m final so it was fantastic to see her doing so well. Sarah Carli was amazing! She placed 2^nd also, with a 2 second PB! Seeing her after my race, made me so happy. Monique Cilione came home with bronze, which was amazing! Altogether Australia placed 13^th in the medal tally from 175 nations!

After competition, we had the most amazing time. On the last day at the track, the whole Australian team swapped pieces of uniform with other countries. I swapped for a Kenyan singlet, yehhya! As it was a Kenyan that won my race. Running around, meeting people and living up the World Youth Championships was such a thrill! The last few days were amazing! Everyone loved the trip to Paris. We saw Paris on a bike tour, it was unbelievable and we learnt a lot about the city. The lively cafes, boutiques, exotic food, delicious patisseries and iconic Eiffel tower was something we’ll remember for a lifetime! Paris was the cherry on top of a great international experience, with so many wonderful memories.

Au Revoir!

The 100 metres is simple. Bang! Get to the other end as quick as you can. There are minor tactical considerations in jumps and throws – deciding which heights to attempt in the vertical jumps, for example – but it’s still basically jump as high, or far, as you can; throw as far as you can.

Not so the distance events which, by their nature, take time to unfold. Even on those rare occasions when some brave soul opts to run as fast as they can, as long as they can, there is still the question of whether he or she can go the distance.

As with the race, so with the 2011 season. Change is in the air as hitherto seemingly invincible practitioners appear suddenly vulnerable. Can they hold off those banging at the gates for one more year, or will new champions emerge. How will it all unfold.

In both Beijing 2008 and Berlin 2009, Kenenisa Bekele ruthlessly dispatched all challengers to his domination of the men’s track distances. He won the 5000/10,000 metres double on both occasions – the longer distance with relative ease, the shorter with tactically complete performances.

Tirunesh Dibaba was not as dominant on the women’s side – she did not run in Berlin at all – but has been the pre-eminent performer in women’s distance events, winning the 5/10 double at the Beijing Olympic Games and Helsinki 2005 world championships, and one gold medal at every championships (except the 2004 Olympics) since Paris 2003.

With six weeks until the world championships open (with the two 10,000s on the first two days), neither is an assured participant in Daegu, though Bekele at least has assured entry as a dual defending champion. The fortunes of Bekele and Dibaba will be another element of the unfolding drama over the next few weeks.

The apparent decline of the ruling generation goes beyond these two. Many of the strongest challengers are also likely to be absent or are in questionable form.

Meseret Defar, Dibaba’s Ethiopian arch-rival, has had a patchy time of it though she, at least, looks to be building into some form, with a sub-14:30 5000 at the Paris DL followed by a 31:05 10,000 in Sicily.

Like Dibaba, though, Defar does not look the irresistible force she has been.

Elvan Abeylegesse, the former Ethiopian now running for Turkey, is another who is sidelined. She is expecting a child. Abeylegesse’s aggression in her ultimately unsuccessful attempt to thwart Dibaba in the Olympic 10,000 produced one of the most unforgettable contests of the Beijing Olympics.

Vivian Cheruiyot (5000) and Linet Masai (10,000) are the reigning world champions and the Kenyan pair are both likely to be formidable in Daegu. Cheruiyot is saying she would like to attempt the double.

On the men’s side, Sileshi Sihine, number two to Bekele in so many races, is not at his top. Two others to have challenged Bekele – Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese and Uganda’s Moses Kipsiro – are sidetracked. Kipsiro has suffered from malaria and typhoid, though he still plans to compete in Daegu. Tadese seems to be torn between the track and the roads. All three of these athletes have solid current track times, but don’t seem to be the forces they were.

The other intriguing possibility opened up by the current situation is that a non-African runner could step up. Mo Farah – Somali born but raised in Britain – Galen Rupp and Matt Tegenkamp are all among the possible men’s 10,000 medallists. Shalane Flanagan is a threat in the women’s 10,000.

Flanagan (Beijing 2008) and Kara Goucher (Osaka 2007) have already been bronze medallists at 10,000, but neither was a factor in deciding the race. The exciting thing about 2011 is that, for the first time since Craig Mottram in the Helsinki 2005 5000 or Paula Radcliffe in women’s 10,000 before that, we are looking at a non-African runner being right in the winning mix.

 Farah has undoubtedly stepped up a level since moving to the US to train with Rupp, and others, under Alberto Salazar. His closing speed in running the fastest 10,000 of the year (at the Pre Classic) and winning the 5000 at the Birmingham DL was most impressive.

Rupp is yet to impose himself on an international race in similar fashion but, three years younger than Farah, gives every impression that he soon will.

For a different reason – injury, in his case – Mottram may still be a year away from 2005 form, but he, too, is showing every sign of getting back into contention for Daegu and London.

Flanagan showed her class in taking a bronze medal behind Cheruiyot and Masai at the world cross-country in Punta Umbria earlier this year. She also showed her development, as the previous year she had not been able to put herself right in the race.

At the US championships, Flanagan ran from the front in finishing comfortably ahead of Goucher. It seems she is a good chance to take a medal again in Daegu.

Whatever happens, there is a lot more drama to unfold in the track distance races yet.

THE early smart money in Sunday’s ASICS Half Marathon men’s race is deservedly on 2010 champion and New Delhi Commonwealth Games marathoner Jeff Hunt from Sydney.

Hunt, 28, will be out to become the first runner to win consecutive ASICS Half Marathons on the Gold Coast and is aiming to improve his own personal best of 1:02:44 in doing so.

He'll also be looking to book himself a berth in the full marathon at September's IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, by clocking under one hour, four minutes and 30 seconds.

Despite his experience and knowledge of the Gold Coast course, the defending champion will be challenged by a pair of Japanese speedsters in Daisuke Koyama, 24, and Hiroki Tanaka, 28, and Athens 2004 Olympics track competitor, Brisbane 32-year-old Peter Nowill.

Koyama is out to post a sub 65 minute run while countryman Tanaka has pledged to do the same.

Nowill is the ‘been there, done that’ man in the field, but the six-time national steeplechase champion will need to keep his eyes on the road if he’s to better his 1:04:29 personal best.

25-year-old Ben Toomey from Melbourne could be the smokey in the field.

The 2010 Christchurch Half Marathon second placegetter has teasingly declared he’s just after a ‘good competitive run’ on the Gold Coast.

However he approaches the race, Toomey will have plenty of Australian lead pack company along the course in Jay Phillpots (VIC), Vlad Shatrov (NSW), Bryan Lyons (TAS).

The leading Gold Coasters are likely to be Scott Whimpey, Joshua-Kaleb Faulkner and Matthew Hobbs.

The race record is 1:01:16 set by Kenyan Benson Masaya in 1992. 

The Samsung IAAF Diamond League rolls on tomorrow, with Australians casting their eyes towardsSally Pearson as she makes her 2011 European debut in the Swiss city of Lausanne.

Bursting out of the blocks only days after a 0.14 second improvement to her 60m personal best and just two weeks after clocking the fastest 100m hurdles time (12.74, w: +1.1) by an Australian on home soil, Pearson’s assault on the international scene marks the beginning of her IAAF world championships build-up.

Meanwhile at a junior level, 11 athletes including Australian Flame Liz Parnov will compete at the Bauhaus Junioren Gala as guests of the German Athletics Federation this weekend, while a 29-strong squad will don the green and gold at the 2011 IAAF world youth championships from Wednesday, July 6.

For more information on the 2011 IAAF world youth championships, please click here.

Commonwealth champion Benn Harradine and current long jump world leader Mitchell Watt will compete in Paris on July 8 as the IAAF Diamond League descends on the French capital, before five Australians include 17-time national champion Tamsyn Lewis take to the track in Birmingham (GBR) two days later.

*Italics denotes athletes already selected to compete at the 2011 IAAF world championships

June 30: IAAF Diamond League – Lausanne (SUI)

100m hurdles: Sally Pearson (24, Qld)

July 2-3: Bauhaus Junioren Gala – Mannheim (GER)

400m: Alexander Beck (19, Qld)

800m: Eliza Curnow (19, Vic), Kuey Diew (18, Qld)

1500m: Jordan Williamsz (18, Vic)

High jump: Brandon Starc (17, NSW)

Long jump: Brooke Stratton (17, Vic), Tim McGuire (19, SA)

Pole vault: Liz Parnov (17, WA)

Shot put: Damien Birkinhead (18, Vic), Liam Speers (19, NSW)

Discus throw: Taryn Gollshewsky (18, Qld), Liam Speers (19, NSW)

July 2: Meeting International – Sotteville les Rouen (FRA)

400m: Ben Offereins (25, WA)

1500m: Jeremy Roff (27, NSW)

Long jump: Robbie Crowther (23, ACT)

Triple jump: Henry Frayne (21, Qld)

July 2: 60^th Cork City Sports – Cork (IRL)

1500m: Zoe Buckman (22, ACT), James Kaan (20, NSW), Brett Robinson (20, ACT)

3000m: David McNeill (24, Vic)

July 2: Bad Langensalza Long Jump Meet – Bad Langensalza (GER)

Long jump: Mitchell Watt (23, Qld)

July 2: Mondon Keien Meeting – Uden (NED)

1500m: Mark Fountain (29, Vic), Craig Mottram (31, Vic)

July 3: Down Under Champs – Gold Coast (QLD)

100m: Laura Whaler (23, NSW), Charlotte Van Veenendaal (22, Qld)

July 3: Gold Coast Marathon – Gold Coast (QLD)

Half marathon: Lara Tamsett (22, NSW), Nikki Chapple (30, Vic), Jeff Hunt (28, NSW)

July 6-10: IAAF world youth championships – Lille (FRA)

An Australian team of 29 will compete at the 2011 IAAF world youth championships.

To download and view the team media guide, please click here.

July 8: IAAF Diamond League – Paris (FRA)

Long jump: Mitchell Watt (23, Qld)

Discus throw: Benn Harradine (28, Vic)

July 9: Flanders Cup Meeting – Kortrijk (BEL)

100m: Aaron Rouge-Serret (23, Vic)

400m: Ben Offereins (25, WA)

400m hurdles: Brendan Cole (30, ACT)

1500m: Mark Fountain (29, Vic)

Long jump: Robbie Crowther (23, ACT)

Triple jump: Henry Frayne (21, Qld)

July 10: IAAF Diamond League – Birmingham (GBR)

800m: Tamsyn Lewis (32, Vic)

5000m: Collis Birmingham (25, Vic), Ben St Lawrence (29, NSW)

100m hurdles: Sally Pearson (24, Qld)

Discus throw: Dani Samuels (23, NSW)

ENDS

The top women runners in Sunday’s (3 July) ASICS Half Marathon on the Gold Coast come into the race from all parts of Australia with running credentials as diverse as the 

wide brown land itself.

The elite field boasts a number of national road, track and cross country champions, all with their eyes on their first Gold Coast 21km victory and the $2500 first prize.

Early favouritism sits with Victorian Anna Thompson and Sydney-based half marathon debutante Lara Tamsett.

34-year-old Thompson has competed internationally in marathon, half marathon and over the 10km road distance.

She has also represented Australia on nine World Cross Country teams and on the track at the Manchester 2002 and Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games over 5000m and 10,000m respectively.

The 2006 City to Surf winner boasts an impressive half marathon personal best of 1:11:38, set in 2007.

Tamsett, 22, comes into her first half marathon as another City to Surf winner (2010) and with a similarly impressive running CV.

She was the 2007 Under 20 World Mountain Running Champion, is a three-time Burnie 10km Road Race winner, was the 2008 Australian 10,000m Champion and, like Thompson, has worn the green and gold on a number of World Cross Country teams.

“As it is my first half marathon, I haven’t set a goal in terms of time,” Tamsett said.

“Rather, my aim is to be competitive in the women’s field, to finish strongly and most importantly to enjoy my first half marathon,” she said.

Tamsett had an excellent warm up in the cold of Tasmania recently (19th June) with an impressive win in the Launceston Ten 10km event.

Adelaide’s Jessica Trengove, 23, is another Gold Coast podium chance.
Her third place in this race on debut last year saw her selected for the World Half Marathon Championships in China where she finished 24th to be the second-placed Australian.

For Sunday however the 2010 Australian Cross Country Champion has her mind set on a well measured run.


“[My goal is] to achieve a personal best time for the half marathon [currently 1:12:48] and finish with a strong final 10 kilometres,” Trengove said.

Clare Geraghty, 25, from Brisbane knows the Gold Coast layout well, but has entered the race under a fitness cloud.

The 2010 Noosa Half Marathon winner will be using the race as preparation for a planned half marathon assault in August at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China.

There are no such worries for 2008 Australian Long Distance Triathlon Champion Abigail Bayley, 33, who says she is looking for a sub 73 minute run.

The UK-born Victorian is her adopted home state’s 2010 and 2011 5000m, 10,000m and 10km road champion.

She took second place the recent Launceston Ten 10km, finishing just eight seconds behind winner Tamsett. 

Other Victorians lining up on the front row of the starting line will be 2011 Great Ocean Road Half Marathon Champion Kelly Jarrett, Brooke Condon and Rhiannon Snipe while New South Wales’ Belinda Martin and Sarah McRae from the ACT are also expected to perform well.

The race record is 1:09:00 set by Lisa Weightman in this race last year. If the record is 

broken again this year, the winner will pocket a $1000 bonus.

Events Queensland General Manager Cameron Hart said preparations are well underway for a record turnout across the Gold Coast Airport Marathon weekend.

"Our race precinct at the Broadwater Parklands at Southport is a hive of activity and our crew there is certainly appreciative of the blue skies they've had to work under this week," Mr Hart said.

"It augers well for a record participation and the best event in our 33 year history," he said.
Staged annually on the first weekend in July, this year's Gold Coast Airport Marathon is set to attract more than 25,000 runners from all over Australia and the world.

It will feature an event for all ages and abilities, including the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Wheelchair Half Marathon, Southern Cross University 10km Run, Queensland Health 5km Challenge and Junior Dash 4km and 2km races.

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is also supporting the Gold Coast's bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games. This event will reinforce the city's capabilities to host major events and showcase to the world the wonderful and diverse attractions the Gold Coast has to offer.

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon, organised by Events Queensland Gold Coast, has won the Best Major Event/Festival at the Queensland Tourism Awards for the past two years. VisitHERE

Registrations close at 8pm (AEST) on Friday 1 July. For information about entry fees or to enter, visit HERE 

Location: Leonora, West Australian outback.

Online entry: HERE

Australia's richest and most unique mile, the Leonora Golden Gift, is back once again in 2011, grander than before, with over 50,000 dollars up for grabs.

In 2010, Leonora’s main street was graced by the likes of Australian middle distance star Ryan Gregson who took the men’s title. Gregson collected $6000 dollars for his efforts plus a gold nugget valued at over 1000 dollars.  Just six weeks later Gregson went on to break the Australian 1500m record, clocking 3:31.06 in Monte Carlo on July 22. The event has a proud history of helping Australia’s best along the road to greater things, just one of the ways in which the Leonora mile has distinguished itself within the Australian running community.

In 2011, a new array of stars will entertain the eager and vocal crowd. So far confirmed starters include Jeremy Roff, who is the 7^th fastest Australian of all time over 1500m, Kaila McKnight, the Australian 1500m champion, and many more of Australia’s best. 

The men's field has a tradition of being as competitive as an Australian championships, with progression from heat to final not being considered a certainy for all but the very best. This year will be no exception. Furthermore, this years women's field is set to turn heads with the likes of Georgie Clarke, Bridey Delaney, Lisa Corrigan, and fresh from the United States, Zoe Buckman. Stay tuned for more announcements.

The prize money on offer for the elite men's and women's mile are as follow:

- First: $6000 plus gold nugget
- Second: $4000
- Third: $2000
- Fourth: $1500
- Fifth: $1250
- Sixth: $1000
- Seventh: $750
- Eighth: $500 

Stay tuned to Runner's Tribe for more updates and information.

If you are an elite 1500m runner and would like to be considered for entry, then please email us at

info@runnerstribe.com 

 

Confirmed starters so far:

 

Men’s field

 

Jeremy Roff

Brett Robinson

Paul Hoffman

James Nipperess

Jordan Williamsz

Nick Toohey

  

A battle royale in the girl’s under 18 400m hurdles has provided a fantastic end to the Australian Junior Athletics Championships today as five days of outstanding junior track and field action drew to a close at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre.

With five girls laying claim to IAAF world youth championship qualifiers at the sound of the gun,  Chloe Jamieson (ACT, 1:00.37) reigned supreme to book her ticket to the France-hosted championships this July ahead of Sarah Carli (NSW, second, 1:00.86) and Tatum Shaw (QLD, third, 1:01.11).

“I am so pumped because I knew with so many girls chasing two spots for world youths that it was going to be a really fast race,” Jamieson said.

“I tried to stay relaxed this morning as I run best when I’m not thinking too much, my motto is pretty much whatever happens, happens so that was how I tried to tackle preparation.”

Out of the blocks quickest was Carli who held onto a slight lead for much of the back straight before Shaw and Jamieson began their challenge. Neck and neck as they came into the last 100m, Jamieson sailed smoothly over the final two hurdles to narrowly win, with fellow qualifier boasting athletes Shanae Peterson (WA, 1:01.41) and Tessa Consedine (VIC, 1:02.33) placing fourth and fifth respectively.

“Tatum (Shaw) and Sarah (Carli) have always been alongside me, all through high school competitions, and that has built a friendly rivalry.” 

Nicholas Hough also shone on day five, adding a fourth gold medal (third individual) to a stellar weekend of performances. Finishing atop the podium in the boy’s under 20 100m, 110m hurdles and 4x100m relay prior to today, Hough is now also the 200m champion after clocking 21.62 (w: -0.6).

Looking ahead to the Sydney Track Classic next Saturday night, Hough has confirmed his selection to the 200m where he will take his chance to line up alongside triple Olympic gold medallist Angelo Taylor (USA).

“Seven races in three days has been massive but I’m still feeling pretty good to be honest,” Hough said.

“It’s so satisfying to come away from these champs (sic) with solid performances across the board and some pretty good times in the 100m and hurdles, I haven’t raced those too often of late.

“Now I look to Sydney where I’ll line up in the 200m and who knows what can happen there.”

In other track highlights:

-          Caitlin Sargent added a second gold medal to her weekend tally by winning the girl’s under 20 200m in a time of 24.79 (w: -1.8).

-          Jordan Williamsz, a graduate of the Athletics Australia Under 19 Talent Squad, won the boy’s under 20 800m ahead of fellow Victorians Joel Hogarth (second, 1:52.98) and Rick Whitehead (third, 1:54.91).

-          New South Welshman Jack Bengal, a member of Athletics Australia’s Target Talent 400m hurdles program, was crowned national champion in a time of 52.13, edging out silver medallist George Freeman (QLD, 52.58) and Christian Lozada (NSW, 52.76), who won bronze.

-          Queensland won the girl’s 4x400m relay in a time of 3:36.22, with the boy’s event won by New South Wales (3:17.23)  

Meanwhile in the thrower’s circle, Tasmanian Danielle McConnell won the world youth championships selection trial to confirm her selection to the Australian team with a 56.16m best mark in the girl’s under 18 hammer throw.

A meet record, McConnell’s best mark today falls just shy of her 57.83m national under 18 record and with her win in the girl’s under 20 event yesterday she heads home boasting two gold medals.

On the runway it was Brodie Cross soaring high in the boy’s under 18 pole vault. Difficult weather conditions forced the 16-year-old to not continue once the national crown was sown up leaving his 4.55m clearance to confirm his selection to the IAAF world youth championships.

Cross will now head home with two gold medals after a new personal best 5.05m to become national under 20 champion and eclipse the Victorian state record held by Steve Hooker.

“Today wasn’t great, the wind and the rain forced me to stop early but I can’t complain about the under 20’s where I set a new PB and jumped really well,” Cross said.

“It’s pretty big to do something similar to Steve (Hooker), and that will spur me on heading into France.”

In other field highlights:

-          Youth Olympian Brandon Starc flew over 2.14m to win the boy’s under 20 high jump.

-          In the girl’s event, 2009 world youth championships medallist Amy Pejkovic won gold after leaping 1.84m, with Eleanor Patterson (VIC, 1.82m) taking home the silver.

-          William White won a second javelin gold medal, this time in the under 20 age group, with his best mark of 66.22m enough to secure the national crown.

-          Commonwealth Games bronze medal winning Margaret Satupai (SAM) heaved 15.57m to win the girl’s under 20 shot put ahead of Taylah Sengul (NSW, second, first Australian, 13.60m) and Che Kenneally (QLD, third, second Australian, 13.55m).

Bringing together almost 2000 athletes for five days of blistering junior track and field action, the Australian Junior Athletics Championships have been a resounding success.

Attention now shifts to the Sydney Track Classic, Round 4 of the Australian Athletics Tour, with under 20 athletes Steve Solomon and Nicholas Hough two of many junior athletes set to shine against their senior counterparts next Saturday.

Heading into the World Championships this year is a new Craig Mottram. He’s engaged to be married, has a new coach, and a new passion for both life and running.

Getting back to Europe

This summer marks the first full European track season since 2008 for Craig Mottram as he attempts to qualify for this year’s World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

Before heading to the Athletics Australia base in Cologne, Germany a few weeks ago the Bronze medallist from 2005 in the 5,000m had been based at altitude in Boulder, Colorado for five weeks. It was the second time Mottram had trained on the famed Front Range of Colorado – the first being after the Commonwealth Games in 2006. “To be honest the first time I trained in Boulder I didn’t really like it, going half way across the world for a training camp then having to drive everywhere for training was annoying, but I thought I’d give it another go and this time around I am loving it – I want to find out what works for me, I don’t want to still be guessing this time next year”.

Like many athletes, Mottram is a creature of habit, so days in Boulder were simple. Five weeks of running twice day, plenty of coffee from the local Starbucks, and three hours of the CBS TV series ‘Criminal Minds’ to end each evening with a little excitement. Usually Mottram likes to break up the monotony of training camps with a race. This time around the plan was a 5,000m at the Diamond League in New York, but a couple of days missed on the track forced a slight change of plans. “It wasn’t worth going to New York to run 13:25 – it was more important to just get the work done. There will be plenty of opportunities in Europe to run fast”. This is part of a strategy to stick to the basics in training, and let the races in Europe bring him along – the biggest of which will be the Diamond League Meets in Birmingham on July 10^th and Monaco on twelve days later. “Birmingham will be to just get the time for the World Champs, then Monaco will be about having a stab”.

Although Mottram now handles all his own management in regards to sponsorship and his ambassador roles, he has been working with James Templeton (agent to David Rudisha) to finalise his European racing schedule.

Too Much Running, Not Enough Rest

After the Beijing Olympics, Mottram needed a break. Since the end of 2006 he had been battling chronic achilles pain, and it finally got the better of him. “The problem with achilles is that they creep up on you. For me, the Olympics were around the corner, I didn’t feel like I could afford to take a break, so I kept pushing. The Olympics is a trap in that regard, you don’t listen to your body. Eventually my achilles just couldn’t take anymore. It was too much running and not enough rest”.

The straw that broke the camels back came one night not long after the Olympics. Mottram’s dog Miles (born on the day of his semi-final in Beijing) needed to go outside. However, at this stage Mottram had to sleep in boots to keep his feet at 90degrees and keep strain off of his achilles. “I couldn’t get the boots off in time. I couldn’t even get out of bed to keep my dog from having to go on the carpet – I had to stop. I wasn’t enjoying running anymore”.

From there Mottram saw the best tendon specialists on the planet. They all said the same thing – they won’t get better unless you stop. Almost eighteen months later Mottram is back at work and getting close to his best. “It’s still more than twelve months until London. I’m going alright, I’m not flying – but twelve months is a long time. Maybe in 2007 I was going too well before Beijing and the only place I could go was down. Either way, I’ve had my rest and I’m ready to go”.

Changes For The Better

Arguably the biggest change Mottram has made is the switch in coaches to Chris Wardlaw; a move that Mottram believes is what will take him to the next stage of his career. “Chris and I speak regularly each week. The program is pretty basic; I don’t need someone standing over me at the track. With Chris it is a very different scenario to what I’ve had in the past. It’s refreshing. I decide a lot of the sessions I do. Chris will give me suggestions, I’ll give him feedback and then we agree on what is required – more of a sounding board. I’m really enjoying the relationship”.

Many have suggested that Mottram wouldn’t change much from what he had done in the past – but the reality is quite the opposite. “I’d be lying if I said it was the same. The whole point of changing was to change everything. In saying that, its still running. There is still bread and butter type stuff that I’ll always do”.

Heading into a full European track season is new territory for Mottram and Wardlaw as they embark on the fine-tuning that comes with racing frequently. “It will be interesting to see how that unfolds. The sessions are not as long as what I was used too. I’m 30 now – I don’t think I need to be doing 10km sessions on the track”.

Some of the changes were simple and began with running less.  “I don’t run 180kms a week now, I run 150. I have more rest now – I took two weeks off after World Cross-Country, and I took a week off after National’s. As you get older you have to listen to your body and accept that you can’t run that much without ramifications”.

“He’s Back” – World Cross Country

The World Cross Country Championships in Spain was the first real test for Mottram back on the world stage. Although things had been going well – his preparation was limited compared to years past. After September’s Great North City Games in Newcastle he had a long rest, then endeavoured on two months of base training at Falls Creek over January and February. This was followed by a 6^th place finish (2^nd Australian) at the Melbourne Track Classic in March in a time of 13:25 that Mottram described as ‘not a bad result’. “Leading into World Cross I thought top 40 would be solid, top 30 would be fantastic – If I got around 20^th that would be a hell of a run. I worked my way through – was conservative the first 5k and then ran them down that second half. I really enjoyed it. I’ve been to World Cross before and gone out through the first kilometre in under 2:30 and then come unstuck. This time I knew my fitness wasn’t where it has been, but I ran to my level and I ran really well”.

There’s more to life than just running

During his break from the sport, Mottram undertook new challenges – including finishing his University Degree. “I needed the challenge, I needed to get it done. Balance in life is crucial to performance in anything. You don’t realise how single minded you have been until something goes wrong and how much of the other aspects of your life you’ve let go”.

Being away from athletics allowed Mottram to get back to his roots. He spent time catching up with friends, family, and doing the things he says that he should have always been doing. “Running at an international level shouldn’t stop you from being a good person, friend, or family member. I may have been lacking it, but now I think I’m in a good spot. Running is going ok – it takes time. This time around I have other things that I enjoy doing that take me away from worrying about how my running is going all the time". 

For a while it seemed that all Mottram had was running, which meant when running wasn’t going well, nothing was going well. “That’s what happened after Beijing. It was disappointing. I didn’t perform how I wanted and how other people wanted me too. That’s why I was proactive in making changes and trusting in those changes that I have made". 

Mottram is now a balanced person as well as an athlete. He is an Education Ambassador for the Australian Olympic Committee, a member of the IAAF athletes commission, and also works for and is the face of the Adidas school’s Fun-Run, a school based program in Australia and New Zealand that promotes a healthy lifestyle and outdoor activities instead of selling chocolate and junk food for fundraisers. “That’s what I spend my time doing. When I’m in Aussie, I am working until around 4 or 4:30, then back home to run again. Its something I would have never done before. Its good for the sport and its good for the kids – encouraging them to do something healthy instead of sitting in front of the computer all day”.

The Next Generation

Mottram understands what is needed to get to the highest level in the sport of athletics, but makes no secrets about that fact that his rise was different to most. “If I had the chance I would encourage young aspiring Australian track and field athletes to go to school in America. The system that is in place in America whereby athletes study via their participation in college athletics has a lot going for it and creates opportunities that are often harder to come by on your own. I’m lucky that I was quite good at a young age - but not as many athletes are necessarily going to be at the level I was at that stage. They might get to that point eventually, but may just need a few more years to get there, and the states allows for that. The economy is hard at the moment; some of the best athletes in the world are struggling to get the support required. I think the college system is fantastic”.

Athletics is not the most lucrative sport, and many throw in the towel well before their peak, particularly when they leave university - something which Mottram believes needs addressing. “I would encourage people to continue if they enjoy it - that’s the most important thing.  It’s about consistency. If someone can run in the 13:20’s for 5k at University, there is no reason they can’t run in the 13-low range a couple of years later. It’s just figuring out what you do in between. You can get a job – I did it. I worked as a lifeguard, a swim instructor, even in a bar because I wasn’t good enough at first to get paid to just run. The thing is though, John Landy, Herb Elliot, John Walker – they all worked and they ran bloody well”.

What does the future hold for Craig Mottram?

Mottram has run world class times from the mile to the 10,000m, but is adamant what is in store for him come London 2012. “I want to run the 5k in London – I want to improve on my 8^th from 2004. I can do better than that”.

He does however plan to approach next years Olympics differently than the last. The plan is to make the team, then the final, and then reassess. Simply put, he will be breaking it down into steps that are more achievable. “I want to take it more relaxed and have fun. It won’t be all about the Olympics for me next year – it will be about running the best I can every time I step on the line, and see where that places me”.

After the London Olympics Mottram will then decide whether to stay on the track or head to the roads. “I want to run a marathon – I’ve never made a big secret about that. I want to get to 30k and see what all the fuss is about. I watch them all the time and it fascinates me seeing someone looking so good to so bad in ten minutes!”

As for what really matters – Mottram just wants to focus on keeping his life balanced, getting some good performances out of running, and seeing where he ends up.

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