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THE MEN

Jeff Riseley is the closest athlete ever to breaking Ralph Doubell’s 40-year national record. Ranked number 2 on the Australian all time list, Jeff holds a PB of 1.44.64 which he posted in Reiti, Italy on September 2011. Riseley already has two Olympic A qualifiers under his belt and has a lot more to come, being under the guidance of coach Nick Bideau. Hopefully in 2012 we get to see this young talent taking Doubell’s record on home turf. Till then, let’s see what more this talent Victorian can produce. London would mark Jeff’s second Olympic Games.

Runner up behind James Kaan at the 2011 Australian National Championships, Lachlan Renshaw was able to cap off his 2011 season on a high, being crowned World University Games Champion. 

Linking up with Oregon Track Club head Coach Mark Rowland at the end of 2010, Renshaw has been able to lower his personal best to 1.45.66, producing this time on home turf at the 2011 Melbourne Track Classic.  He is certainly determined and driven to once again make his second Olympic team this coming season. 

Other names to look out for in 2012 over the 800m include Alex Rowe (1.46.28), James Gurr (1.46.52), Tristan Garrett (1.46.66), Australian 2011 National champion James Kaan (1.46.74), Australian indoor 800m and mile record holder Ryan Foster (1.46.78), Nick Toohey (1.47.72), Jordan Williamsz (1.47.74) and surprise bronze medalist at the 2011 Australian Championships, Johnny Raynor.

THE WOMEN

Her sights are set high on her fourth Olympic Games.  Tamsyn Manou (nee Lewis) may have a new last name but this will not stop her trying to win another Australian national title on top of her seventeen. In 2009 she became World Indoor Champion over the 800m and calls this event her pet event. However she will not shy away from the 400m, as it’s an event she feels compliments the 800m.  Looking towards London, Manou has not shunned the idea of doing the 400m/800m double. As the 400m is placed early in the track and field games schedule, Manou believes this could be a great way to take away some of the nerves and break herself into the meet before the 800m which will be ran at the end of the schedule. Her plan heading into London is firstly to achieve the 800m A mark. "The A is 1.59.9 which is going to be tough to do in Australia but my coach and I will use the domestic season and grass roots interclub to achieve the time".

Other potential contenders and up and comers in this event include two times national champion Katherine Katsanevakis (2.02.64), World University Games representative Holly Noack (2.02.64), 2011 Australian national bronze medalist Sianne Toemoe (2.02.88), 2011 Australian national silver medalist

Kelly Hetherington (2.02.89), 1500m national champion Zoe Buckman (2.03.72) and 2011 Australian 800m junior champion Eliza Curnow (2.04.83). Also not to forget 2008 Olympic representative and 2009 World University Games champion Madeleine Pape (1.59.92) and New Zealanders Nikki Hamblin (1.59.66) and Angie Smit (2.03.87) who will also be looking to grab a spot to represent the black and white.

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"WITNESSING Arnold Sorina walking down a street in his native Vanuatu, you could mistake him for royalty. There aren't too many people in the small South Pacific island nation that don't know him, or at least know of him.

 

Requests for high fives and handshakes or just shouts of ``hey Arnold'' follow him pretty much wherever he goes. It's also not unusual for Sorina to be offered land or housing, either, such is the adulation for this national hero thrust into stardom last year after becoming the first Vanuatu athlete to qualify for a semi-final of a Commonwealth Games event.

 

Yet there's no hint of ego from the quietly spoken, but quick-witted runner. It's because that life of adulation is not what the 23-year-old athlete reckons he wants or needs - not if he is going to fulfil his true potential when he realises his Olympic dream in London next year, anyway. To do that, the 800m specialist has turned to Townsville.

 

For the past three months and right up until the Games, Sorina will be based in the city, training under the watchful eye of coach and North Queensland Athletics development officer Cameron Clayton to hone his skills.

 

``It's a great place to prepare for my competitions,'' Sorina said.

 

``At home we don't have the coaches, that's the biggest failure, or these good facilities to run on a good synthetic track or just running on the road. At home you can't find a good road like this (pointing to Warburton St)."

"The weather as well It is just like Vanuatu, it is always warm and good conditions all the time, which is good for training and good for my body. I have been injured many times in the past because of the weather being too cold for me."

 

``Here I've had no injuries and (I have achieved some of) my best results.''

 

Sorina is able to take advantage of the North thanks to an International Olympic Committee Olympic Solidarity scholarship, which he takes extremely seriously, knowing it means plenty of people have extreme belief in him.

 

He desperately doesn't want to let any of them down. As Sorina effortlessly floated down the track at the Townsville Sports Reserve this week, though, it was clear he's not wasting it.

 

He's already had training stints in New Zealand and on the Gold Coast, but it's in Townsville that he is getting it done.

 

Already Vanuatu's 800m record holder, Sorina is slowly but surely building a reputation down under - most notably at this year's Stawell Gift when, starting from a back marker, he rocketed to a second-place finish.

 

Just last week he cruised to gold in the 800m at the Oceania Games in Samoa, and he also unofficially smashed his nation's 400m record when competing in the relay. Do the same in the individual event and he'll again qualify for the Olympics.

 

``There are so many improvements, especially in my 400s,'' he said when asked how being in Townsville had helped him.

 

``At the (Stawell Gift) where I have never run fast like that before and the other, the gold in the 800 in Samoa, I have never run a good comfortable 800 like that before.''

 

Clayton, who has formed a strong bond with Sorina since the pair met in a chance encounter in Brisbane two years ago, has no doubt the relaxed, but focused runner has unbelievable potential to unleash. While Sorina is unquestionably genetically gifted, his mentor said it

was his willingness to push boundaries and thirst to learn that took him from the ``good'' category to the cusp of excellence.

 

``We went from the end of February saying he would do the Stawell Gift in mid-April, and just seeing how much he progressed in that limited time frame, if we get a smooth ride . . . there's no reason why he can't be getting way past his semi-finals berth at the Com Games and doing the same thing at the world and Olympic level,'' Clayton said. ``He just responds really well to various training loads and therefore improves very quickly.''

 

Remarkably Sorina - one of six children who was born on Vanuatu's beautiful island of Pentecost - only began competitively running six years ago. Within 12 months he was lining up in the heats of the 400m at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games before his and his nation's crowning moment in Delhi last year.

 

``They wanted to give me lands and houses,'' Sorina said with a laugh about his reception when he returned from the Games.

 

``People just give me a high five I don't know who it is but I just do it.''

 

But all that adulation was never going to be enough to take Sorina from the Games' semis to the finals and maybe even a medal. For all their good intentions, Vanuatu athletics is not yet well-equipped enough to turn their athletes world-class.

 

So while living in the North may not command him the royal treatment, it is Townsville that can make him king."

With Thanks to the Townsville Bulletin and Athletics North Queensland  

 

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G’day Guys,

As my first update I thought I’d tell you all a little about myself.

I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa where I lived for 13 years before immigrating to Australia with the rest of my family. I was never really interested in Track and Field, mainly because rugby was a way of life back home but I soon found myself becoming a member of a Little Athletics Club when I found out that AFL wasn’t for me after struggling to grasp the concept of bouncing a ball while running.

I joined Nunawading Little Athletics Club where I started my career in becoming the next Usain Bolt focusing on only the sprints as they required the least amount of training and gave more time to socialise during Saturday morning competitions; and I still wonder why I wasn’t picked for any relay teams.

After I reached the highest age group in Little Athletics I moved to Doncaster Athletics Club to continue my illustrious career in becoming a sprinter. Under the watchful eye of Tom Kelly I began taking my running more seriously, training once a week where everything was done in spikes, including my warm up drills; again I wondered why no relay team selection.

As a spare of the moment thought I attempted an 800m race at a weekly shield comp where my main ambition was to beat a fellow teammate; in the end I ran 2:02. I then entered the Victorian Junior Championships going on this result, where I narrowly won in 1:55. Heading over to the National Junior Championships I was finally put into my place coming last in the final to the newly crowned Australian National Champion, James Kaan, where he broke the National Junior record in 1:49 at that time.

 

Since then my major achievements include:

·         PBs - 800m: 1:50.00 & 400m: 48.85

·         4 Victorian State 800m titles including the Open Mens title in 2010

·         2^nd at NSW Championships behind Matty “Finger” Hammond in 2011
      

I’m currently in my third year of an Electrical Engineering degree which doesn’t leave much time for training, but I’ve improved from when I was young, trying to keep an active lifestyle; where I work as a swimming instructor for Nunawading Swimming Club, play mixed Netball for those social benefits, and now train 5-6 days a week averaging about 50km including several days at the gym.

 

I’m hoping for a better performance during the 2011/12 season where I hope to break that illusive 1:50 barrier and join the boys at the start line of finals of the 2012 Australian National Championships. With the help of “Team Kelly” and my new sponsors Saucony, Runnerstribe & Team SIS hopefully my next update will be a better read.

 

Keep Running!

Cheers    

 

 

“Let the debates begin”, writes Bryan Green, an invitation most of us can’t resist.

So I might kick things along by saying I have no idea who would win a fantasy 800 between the past three world record holders – Sebastian Coe, Wilson Kipketer and David Rudisha.

That said, I have a strong view on who would not win, and that’s Sebastian Coe. I’d back him against pretty well anyone in history at 1500 but the case against Coe at 800 can be summarised _ a little unfairly, I’ll admit _ in three words: Hans-Peter Ferner.

Hans-Peter Ferner was the largely undistinguished German middle-distance runner who upset Coe in the 800 at the 1982 European championships in Athens. The comparison is not entirely fair to Coe, as he had missed a lot of the 1982 season ill.

“I’ve taken a lot out of a shallow well,” he said in attempting to explain the inexplicable.

The loss to Ferner, however, did serve to underline the fact that for all his greatness at 800, Coe struggled to win a major title at the event. In the 1978 European championships, he was third, passed by Steve Ovett in the final metres before both were swamped by East Germany’s Olaf Beyer. At the Moscow Olympic Games, the two great British rivals famously ‘swapped’ specialties, Ovett winning the 800, Coe redeeming his career with his win in the 1500.

After two years of illness and injury, Coe was again at peak strength for the 1984 Olympics. He successfully defended his 1500 crown, but only after finishing second in the 800 to Brazil’s Joaquim Cruz.

Indeed, not until the 1986 Europeans _ by which time he had been the world record holder for seven years _ did Coe finally land an 800 gold medal. He beat Tom McKean and Steve Cram in a British clean-sweep. Then, in an outcome eerily reminiscent of Moscow 1980, he lost the 1500 to Cram.

Cram had earlier won the Commonwealth 800-1500 double, taking the 800 in 1:43.22 from McKean. Coe, who was ill, did not take his place in the final.

So, over eight years from 1978 to 1986, Coe lost two fast championship 800s (1978, when he went out in 49.3, and 1984, when Cruz won in 1:43.00), two tactical races (1980 and 1982) and didn’t get to the line for a race Cram won in 1:43.22.

Coe was obviously a great 800 runner, but the evidence suggests he was vulnerable in head-to-head races against the very few men who could be regarded as his peers.

Kipketer won four world championships but likewise failed to win an Olympic gold medal. He missed his best chance in 1996 when he was ineligible, a few months short of becoming a naturalised citizen for his adopted Denmark. It’s hard to see how Kipketer would not have won then.

Rudisha, of course, has no medal at all at senior global championship level, his one attempt ending in the semi-finals in Berlin last year. That bitter experience sparked the sequence of fast times which included the world record 1:41.09 in the same Berlin stadium a week ago.

Rudisha’s current status raises another point of debate in 800 running: all things being equal, will a good big man always beat a good little man?

Peter Fortune, Cathy Freeman’s coach, observed of Rudisha that “he’s not only big; he runs magnificently and he’s quick.” Of course, as well as one of Rudisha’s  1:43 performances in Melbourne, Australians also saw evidence of his speed when he ran a 45.50 400 in Sydney earlier this year.

On whether good big men always beat good little men, Fortune was not so sure, but he says: “When they’re tired, big men remain strong.”

Most 800-metre races are run slowing down. I saw some ‘stats’ this week that indicated 18 of the 21 improvements of the world record/world best (a couple were not ratified) featured a slower second lap. Most of this slowdown comes in the last 200. In both Kipketer’s previous record of 1:41.11 and Rudisha’s 1:41.09, the slowest 200 was the last 200.

Intuitively, physical strength must play a role here. Intuitively again, big men are stronger than smaller men and stocky men stronger than lean rivals.

This issue got a really good working over back in the days when Alberto Juantorena ruled the roost. Juantorena (nick-name El Caballo, the horse) won the 400/800 double at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and remains the only man to do so. He set world records both in winning at the Games (1:43.50) and the following year (1:43.44).

In Montreal, Juantorena destroyed his smaller US opponent Rick Wohlhuter, who had set two world records in the run-up to the Games, in the final straight.

Mike Boit of Kenya missed that race as the African nations boycotted Montreal in protest at New Zealand’s rugby ties with South Africa. Tall, but lean, Boit took Juantorena on in a classic race at the World Cup in Dusseldorf in 1977. The pair engaged in a side-by-side battle up the last straight before Boit fell into his opponent’s giant stride pattern and lost narrowly, 1:44.04 to 1:44.14.

Coe’s championship losses to Beyer-Ovett and Cruz also fall into the big man/small man category.

Anyway if you want to make your own judgement, you can see the 1976 Olympic final here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBTG-QwbNsE&feature=related) and the 1977 World Cup race here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9C2CDZvOOY).

Finally, as Rudisha contemplates his championships aims for the next two years, it’s sobering to think that the last man to win an Olympic gold while also holding the world record was Dave Wottle back in 1972 in Munich.

Let the debates continue!

By Chris Wainwright.

In 2006 Alex Rowe needed to make a big decision - was he going to continue playing Australian Rules Football or was he going to try his luck in the tough world of athletics?
At that point Rowe was only 14 years of age and had just lowered his 800m personal best to 1.54.80. This was achieved after only 9 months of specific training, and with such a quality performance at such a young age he knew that he had the potential to make it over the two laps.

Two years later he had made the decision, no more football, a decision that was not made lightly. The decision was a brave one, considering the financial apsect, although a wise one especially considering Rowe's recent performances at the Melbourne Track Classic. On that particular night Rowe moved to no.8 on the Australian All-Time Junior ranking list, with a very special 1.47.56 - and he has yet to turn 18 (see list below)

1. 1.45.91 - Paul Byrne, Lindau, 1995
2. 1.47.00 - Lachlan Renshaw, Beijing, 2006
3. 1.47.26 - Brendan Hanigan, Seoul, 1992
4. 1.47.37 - Grant Cremer, Canberra, 1997
5. 1.47.38 - Ryan Gregson, Rieti, 2009
6. 1.47.4h - Paul Cleary, Canberra, 1995
7. 1.47.5h - Mike Hillardt, Brisbane, 1980
8. 1.47.56 - Alex Rowe, Melbourne, 2010

With such a quality time it was expected Rowe would travel over to Canda for the 2010 World Junior Championships, but another difficult decision was made - year 12 was more important and a mark left at senior level was more important than a mark left at a junior level.

We talk to Rowe about his tough decisions made over the past four years and that special night at Olympic Park when he ran against one of the worlds very best over two laps - David Rudisha of Kenya.

Runners Tribe
Firstly, thank-you for taking this opportunity to speak with RunnersTribe.
Before we talk about your sensational 2010 track season, tell us a little about when you started athletics and what made you become interested in the sport? When did you know that the 800m was going to be your “pet” event?

Alex Rowe
No worries, thank you for this opportunity. I started off with some general running in the winter of 2006 (14) to improve fitness for football. I then continued and began athletics training with school. I chose to run the 800m as it was similar to the running I had been doing in football. As the school athletics season commenced, I ran a 2:14, 2:13 and then a 2:03. It was at this point when I ran a 10 second PB that I knew that the 800m was for me. A passion for athletics grew as I strove to break the illusive 2:00.00 barrier and things just progressed from there.
 
RT
I once read that you were running 2.13 as a 13 year-old, but after 9 months of specific training you had lowered your personal best to 1.54.8? Was this when you knew you were better than the average junior 800m runner? Was it easy to make the decision to concentrate on athletics, or were there other sports that you were interested in at this point in your life?
 
Alex Rowe
I was 14 at that time and lowered my personal best to 1:54.8. This time happened to be the Victorian age record and it was a surreal feeling. After only 9 months of athletics I had transformed from an average runner to running the fastest time a Victorian 14 year old ever has. So it became quite clear that I did have some potential in the sport. Following this time I continued playing football, completing my best season and believing that I may also have a future in football too. In 2008 I gave football away, which was one of the hardest decisions of my life. Although I believe it was the right one, I still miss the game. I loved the camaraderie of playing a team sport with my mates.

RT
By 2007 (aged 15) you had lowered your personal best down to 1.53.40, but it was in 2008 that you really started to make your mark as a serious 800m runner with a 1.50.63 when second at the Australian Junior Championships on the Gold Coast. What was it like to be running such good times at such a young age? What was your training like at this stage of your career?

Alex Rowe
Before the Australian Junior Championships I was fairly disappointed I had only improved 1.4 seconds from the 2006/07 season. I knew that this was the last opportunity I would have to better this mark and it proved successful. What made the time and race even more pleasing was the fact that there was a point in the final straight where I realised I was not far off James Kaan (eventual winner of the race). Knowing that he came 6th at the previous years World Youths, I really began believing in myself.

At that time my training wasn’t too heavy. It consisted of two track sessions, one speed session, a couple of slow jogs (20-30 minutes) and a pool session. This period was after I changed coaches to Justin Rinaldi, whose focus was on the enjoyment of training and racing, rather than taking things too seriously too early.

RT
A year later you went one better at the Australian Junior Championships, when you won the U/20 800m final and in the process you broke 1.50.00 for the first time (1.49.64). Were you expecting to break 1.50.00 on that particular day? You ended up winning the race by 1.52 seconds – did it feel like an easy victory?

Alex Rowe
Again I left it up to the last race of the season to run a personal best. For the whole season I had the goal of breaking 1:50.00 and in hindsight it was probably the wrong attitude to have. Every race where the 400m split was under 55 seconds, I would become excited and believe it was an opportunity to break through, rather than to win the race. I was putting too much pressure on myself. So when I came into the final my sole aim was to win the race as I honestly thought that I wasn’t capable of breaking the barrier. I ended up going through the bell at around 54.50 seconds and sat on Adrian Plummer until 700m to go where I went to the front. I knew by this stage that I was going to win and it was only when I was 30m from the line I noticed that the time on the clock was surprisingly low. Needless to say, I really went for it. I didn’t know how far in front I was. When I saw the video after the race, I was pretty surprised at how well I finished.

RT
With the victory at the Australian Junior Championships you were then selected for the World Youth Championships in Italy. How exciting was it to be selected for your first Australian team for a major championships? What was it like going to Italy knowing that you were a realistic chance of coming back to Australia with a medal?

Alex Rowe
There is much prestige in representing your country which is an opportunity very few get to experience, so I knew that it was special. I was more than excited, it is every athlete’s dream to represent their country. I really didn’t think about medaling. My focus was to get myself in the best possible shape and whether I would medal or not would be determined by the quality of my competitors. I’m a big believer that you should only focus on what you can control and that there is no point in worrying in your competitors.

RT
Although you didn’t quite medal in Bressanone, Italy (finishing 5th in 1.52.13), what was it like to mix it with the very best 800m runners in the world? What lessons did you learn from your first major final – can you take us through the final, how were you feeling entering the race?

Alex Rowe
It was a very humbling experience. Even though I was not in the best shape at the competition, I was still able to finish 5th. This was a result that I knew would have been better if I was in my 1:49.64 shape I produced 4 months earlier, however it still is one of my greatest achievements to date. The best lesson I learnt from this race was obvious when I looked at the video. At 300m to go I was perhaps in the best position of the race however when the French runner kicked clear (who eventually placed 4th), I did not have enough belief within myself to go with him. As the rest of the field went with him, I sat back. I still say to myself if only I had gone with him I probably would have captured 4th. From this, I now enter races unwilling to give my competitors too much space, as it is something you cannot do when racing at this level. Even though it was a harsh lesson I learnt, it has been the best lesson I’ve learnt in my short career.
Going into the race I was amazed at my nerves. They were exactly the same they usually are for any local or club race. Despite the crowd and massive occasion of the event, I was surprised at how I handled myself.

RT
You’re currently coached by Justin Rinaldi (who is himself a 1.47.62 800m runner). How long have you been with Justin? Do you train by yourself or do you train with a group? What’s your normal training week?

Alex Rowe
I have now been with Justin for nearly two and a half years. At the moment I am training with the school twice a week in my winter preparation, with many good cross country runners such as Anthony Aloisio and Timas Harik who are far fitter than me. However during this summer season I will train with Justin and Simon Fitzpatrick, whilst also jumping in and out of other group sessions.

At the moment I am slowly increasing my training so that hopefully a winter week will look as followed:

Monday – Gym
Tuesday – Minute repetitions e.g. 6x3minute efforts
Wednesday – 20minute run and gym
Thursday – Minute repetitions
Friday – Rest
Saturday – Cross country race
Sunday – 40 minute run

Whilst having no specific speed work, quick strides will be completed approximately once every two weeks.

RT
You’re currently completing year 12 at St Kevins. Being such an important school year, was this a major reason for your decision to miss this year’s World Junior Championships in Canada? Was it a difficult decision to make, especially considering that you had lowered your personal best to 1.47.56 when you were 6th at the Melbourne Track Classic (a time that ranks you as one of the fastest juniors in the world over 800m in 2010)? When did you actually make the decision to miss the World Juniors?

Alex Rowe
It was yet again another difficult decision, however there are more important things in life than athletics. Firstly I have to complete year 12 which is a very important year. Secondly, Justin and I realised the championships would again disrupt my winter preparations for the 2010/11 season and would perhaps be more beneficial for my development if I had a solid winters training.
The decision was 90% made at the start of the year however it was cemented once I ran my 1:47.56. After running this time, I know that I have the potential to forge a career in this sport. I therefore genuinely felt it is more important to prepare for the long-term. Running well as a junior means little. Running well as an adult is the important thing. This is not to say that the Juniors don’t have a place for others. Just that for me, at this time, it isn’t the “be all and end all”.

RT
Take us through that race in Melbourne? How did you feel when you saw a 1.47 next to your name on the scoreboard at Olympic Park? What was it like being dragged along in such a fast race – eventually won by David Rudisha in the quickest time ever seen in Australia (1.43.15)?


Alex Rowe
It was a perfect summer’s night, warm and balmy without a breath of wind. The warm up went well and I made my way to the call room feeling confident about what I was able to produce. It was there I realised I was actually going to race the 4th fastest man in history. I’ve seen many videos of him on the internet and to be actually one of his competitors was surreal. However this time Rudisha evened the ledger as I technically beat him in the 400m he was disqualified in, at Aberfeldie athletics track a couple of weeks earlier. I went through the bell in 8th in 52.50 seconds which was the second fastest time I’ve been through 400m and at that stage I remember thinking to myself that I would begin to feel the lactic acid any second but it never came. I made a strong move towards the front at 300m to go and at one stage was in 4th, however I was still able to finish strongly with a 1.98 second personal best.
I can easily say that it was the best moment of my athletics career. I was interviewed after the race and anyone who has seen it, can see how excited and pumped I was. It was an amazing experience for so many reasons:
1. To stand on the line against the 4th fastest man in history is something I will never forget.
2. To get a run in the Melbourne Track Classic had been an ambition of mine for a couple of years.
3. I had all my school mates come down and provide fantastic support.
4. I was a part of history as it was the fastest 800m race ever in Australia.
Seeing the 1:47.56 up on the board was simply amazing. The adrenalin and elation I felt is something I will remember forever.

RT
You backed up your sensational 1.47.56 with a win at the Australian Junior Championships in Sydney (in 1.49.31) and then you came 2nd at the Victorian Championships. You have now run under 1.50.00 five times in your career and you’re still only 17 years-old. With this in mind what’s your next big goal in your athletic career? Do you feel like 2011 will be a consolidation year for you or do you feel as though you can keep on improving on your personal best? You actually only have an official PB over 400m of 48.79 seconds, is this an area where you believe you will need to improve to make the next step?

Alex Rowe
I feel as though I can continue to improve my times as I continue to develop physically and slowly begin to train like an adult, which will improve my times. Having said that, it is difficult to speculate what I am going to run, however breaking 1:47.00 is definitely something I want to do next season. I know that to improve my 800m I need to improve my aerobic conditioning. Justin and I both know that my 400m personal best is not a true reflection of my actual speed, as we have used these races simply as training with time trials in training near peaks suggesting a faster personal best. Conversely, my aerobic capacity at the moment is my Achilles’ heel. It is an area that we have not intensely focused on which was one of the essential reasons behind my decision not to compete in Canada at the World Junior Championships.



RT
Well thanks again for taking the time to have a quick chat with Runnerstribe.com. We wish you all the very best in 2010 and beyond. Good luck!

Alex Rowe
Thanks once again for this opportunity, it is greatly appreciated.

© 2009 The Runner's Tribe, all rights reserved. Published Thursday August 13, 2009

Brought to you by Edward Ovadia who is in Berlin with official IAAF accreditation covering the championships for Runnerstribe.com

 

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For six days, the world championships have been about letting your head go. On night seven, as real storms raged around the stadium _ not surreal, Lightning Bolt storms _ lightning flashed, thunder rolled, rain pelted down, it was a night for keeping heads.

Dani Samuels notably kept hers and the Sydney 21-year-old became a world champion in the discus _ more of that later. Many others lost their heads, or had them scrambled by the rain delays and the accompanying cold snap. Only four men cleared higher than 2.23 in a high jump competition hit particularly hard by the wet weather.

As ever, there were also some amazing brain snaps in the middle-distances, the semi-finals of men's 800 metres and women's 1500.

I have to admit to an intense dislike of the competition model which produces three semi-finals of the 800. Having only two automatic qualifiers from a semi-final seems to me at least one too few, and the two non-automatic qualifiers usually come from the same race. So instead of 2-2-2 and two more, it is invariably 2-4-2.

It also means that you cannot afford the slightest mistake. One wrong move and you're out.

That said, one thing I love about the system is that it usually ensures three cracking races. The first round and the final can be tactical; in the semi it's just run, run, run as fast as you can.

Somehow, the second semi-final here was jam packed with superstars, while the first and third were comparatively thin. Semi-final two had the defending world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Alfred Kirwa Yego, the Olympic silver medallist Ahmad Ismail, the Olympic fifth placegetter and new world 1500 champion Yusuf Kamel, 2004 Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy and perennial medal contender Mbulaeni Mulaudzi.

Talk about loaded: if the second semi were a ship, it would have been sinking way beyond the Plimsoll line.

As it turned out, all three semis produced carnage and, surprisingly, the fastest winning time of the three was Kamel's 1:45.01.

In the first, Abubaker Kaki unusually took the lead, presumably to eliminate the chance of being boxed. Instead, he was clipped from behind by Bram Som of the Netherlands. He clattered to the ground, Som came over the top of him and Poland's Marcel Lewandowski, unable to avoid the pair, came down as well.

This at least meant only two could qualify from the race, but the drama continued into the loaded dog of semi-final two as Ismail pulled out at the bell and Kiprop inexplicable stopped running at 600. Kamel, Borzakovskiy, Yego and Mulaudzi all got through from the race.

The third semi was tame by comparison, but still saw a dramatic change in the final few strides as David Rudisha lost form completely and was tipped out of second by Yeimer Lopez of Cuba.

Phew! The women's 1500 semis followed the men's 800 and saw the entire field in the second heat dawdle around and rely on a kick when they knew exactly what time they had to run. Chief casualty was Olympic champion Nancy Langat, who crashed literally, falling heavily to the track as she lunged through the finish line.

All this demonstrated one of my favourite sayings: "Never under-estimate the collective stupidity of a field of middle-distance runners.

Anyway, back to Samuels, who amply demonstrated the value of keeping cool, but also that triumph and disaster are two sides of the same coin.

The long rain delay meant she did not have any warm-up throws, and Samuels' first effort in the final wobbled out of her hand and outside the sector on the right scarcely more than 30 metres from where she stood.

It could have rocked her, but Samuels steadied and threw 59 metres in the second round. This still left her vulnerable to finishing outside the top eight until she improved to 62 in the third round. A 64-metre throw in the fourth _ the first of two personal bests _ put her into a medal, and a 65.44 in the fifth saw her vault into the gold medal position.

Cool, calm and collected the gold. What more can you say?


 

Len Johnson was The Melbourne Age athletics writer for over 20 years, covering five Olympics, 10 world championships and five Commonwealth Games. He is the author of The Landy Era, From Nowhere to the Top of the World, and a former national class distance runner (2.19.32 marathon) who trained with Chris Wardlaw and Robert de Castella.

"Borzakovskiy is already out of this race" : Sebastian Coe commentating during the Sydney Olympic 800m semi-final, when Borzakovskiy trailed the field after one lap, only to catch up and coast over the line with Djabir Said Guerni, comfortably progressing to the final.

Yuriy Borzakovskiy, the introverted Russian defending Olympic 800m champion and sixth fastest 800m runner of all time will surely go down in history, no matter what the outcome in Beijing, as being one of the most flamboyant and unpredictable 800m runners to ever grace the track. With Beijing fast approaching we take a look back over his career, and briefly assess the main contenders standing inbetween him and successive Olympic golds.

His career thus far

 

At just 18 Borzakovskiy stormed into the world's running spotlight by winning the 1998 European Indoor 800m Championship, quite an achievement for a teenager. Less than two years later, as a 19 year old, Borzakovskiy made the Sydney Olympic 800m final, one of the youngest finalists of all time, he finished sixth. In 2001 the flying Russian took his first big title, winning the World Indoor 800m Championship and finishing the year with the fastest time in the world (1:42.47), which set a new Russian record and a European U23 record.

Brussels 2001: 1:42.47, 6th fastest time in history

 

 

Borzakovskiy's next championship medal was a silver at the 2003 Paris World Championships. 2003 saw him run a total of three sub 1:44.00 races, the most notable of these being a 1:43.94 to win the Gaz de france

2003 Gaz de France, 1st, in 1:43.94

 

 

Borzakovskiy ensured that his named will be etched into the history books with a stunning come from the clouds victory at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Although not givng the leaders as bigger start as usual, he once again left it until the last 50m to snatch victory in 1:44.45 from South African Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (1:44.61) and world-record holder Wilson Kipketer (1:44.65).

2004 Athens Olympic 800m

 

In the wake of Athens

 

 

2005, 2006 and 2007 resulted in Borzakovskiy taking three minor medals; silver in the 2005 Helsinki World Championships, bronze at the 2006 World Indoor Championships and bronze at the 2007 Osaka World Indoor Championships. During these years he also made sporadic appearances at various meets, one of his favorites being the Athens Tsiklitiria Super Grand Prix which he won in both 2006 (1:43.42) and 2007 (1:44.38).

2008

 

2008 has been a quiet year thus far with just the occasional appearance including a 1:45 in Stuttgart in Febuary. Borzakovskiy is reported as having spent several weeks at a training camp in Cyprus at up to 6,000 feet above sea level as well as at an altitude training camp in the Caucasus Mountains. On his race agenda leading into Beijing include the Russian Championships in early July, Stockholm on July 22 and Monte Carlo on July 29. He then plans to spend a few weeks training in Irkutsk in eastern Russia before heading to Beijing.

Challenges for his crown

 

Abubaker Kaki, 1:42.69 (Sudan) : Kaki, the Sudanese teenager is the real thing with some major wins already under his young belt and many calling him the man to beat in Beijing. Some of his accomplishments include a 1:43.90 to win the Pan Arab Games in November 2007, victory at the World Indoor Championships, in Valencia in March (1:44.81), and a stunning victory at the Oslo Bislett Games Golden League on June 5 this year, he beat a world class field and clocked 1:42.69.

2008 Oslo Golden League, Kaki 1:42.69

 

 

David Rudisha, (Kenya): Rudisha, also a teenager has already produced big things, breaking the 24 year old African Championships record earlier this year in Addis Ababa, running a 1:44.20. This year he has also won the Qatar Super Grand Prix in Doha (1:44.36).

Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, 1:42.89 (South Africa): Mulaudzi is the 2004 Olympic silver medallist, the 2004 World Indoor champion and the 2003 World Championship bronze medalist. With a 1:42.89 to his name and some fast times so far this year,Mulaudzi will always stand a chance.

Yeimar López, 1:43.07 (Cuba): López is the latest threat to emerge with a stunning 1:43.07 victory in Jerez, on June 24 of this year. López, previously a 400m runner has a 400m PB of 45.11. However, it's not just the speedy times that signals López as a serious medal threat, but the style in which he defeated Mulaudzi in Jerez, pulling away with 200m to go to win convincingly.

In what must be surely one of the hardest events in which to win gold, other challengers for the crown include athletes from a diverse array of countries including; Wilfred Bungei (Kenya), Alfred Kirwa Yego (Kenya, 144.01), Gilbert Kipchoge (Kenya), Khadevis Robinson (America, if selected), Nick Symmonds (America, if selected), Yusuf Saad Kamel (BRN), Gary Reed (Canada), Boaz Kiplagat (Kenya), as well as other dark horses.

© 2008 The Runner's Tribe

 

'Timed it perfectly when it mattered most'
Bruce McAveny commentating on Borzakovskiy's 2004 Athens Olympic victory

 

 

 

 

Age: 21
Coach: Tom Paton
Achievements: 2008 Victorian Mile Champion, 2009 Victorian 1500m Champion, 2009 U23 National Champion, and 4th at Open Championships 1500m (3:42).
PBs:
800m - 1:53.05

 

1500m - 3:42.11
Mile - 3:59.93
3000m - 8:12
 

 

"Growing up in south west Victoria near the township of Dunkeld, my early days were spent running around mobs of sheep in the paddocks with my training partner 'the white whippet'. Footy and cricket dominated the sporting culture for males, and consequently there was limited popularity or support for running. It was a decent distance from the athletics community, but that did not deter me, it just meant countless long journeys to the 'city' for competitions and other athletic commitments.

I realised that to improve my running I would have to move closer to better athletic services. The first move I made was to Melbourne for a couple of years to undertake university, and then on to Geelong. This has allowed me to meet many interesting people and has led to a number of overseas trips as a training partner for an elite track athlete. I have found that both the country and city lifestyles are quite different and when the phone rang for my first trip as a training partner, while in the middle of drenching a mob of sheep I hardly expected to hear news that I was to be going overseas for three and a half months as a training partner, traveling Europe. This was a great learning experience as I was able to experience first hand a professional approach to running.

I have realised that if I am going to have a proper crack at running I need to be in close proximity to my coach, training and medical facilities. As a self-funded athlete currently studying full-time and working when I can, it is also quite difficult to be able to do everything required to undertake my athletics in a professional manner. I hope that support such as this Runner's Tribe sponsorship can help make this easier to undertake, so that I can continue to improve my personal bests and hopefully represent Australia in the near future."

'I hope that support such as this Runner's Tribe sponsorship can help make this easier to undertake, so that I can continue to improve my personal bests and hopefully represent Australia in the near future."'
Brenton Rowe