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One of the consequences – intended or otherwise - of the IAAF’s shortening of the qualifying period for this year’s world championships is that some events have an alarmingly low number of qualified athletes.

For those still unaware, the qualifying period for Daegu opened on 1 October last year, cutting nine months of the period athletes have to attain the entry standards. In effect, it was a whole season, as only the early part of the southern hemisphere season falls into the last three months of the year.

With many athletes spending a good part 2011 focused on the process of making their national teams, it leaves precious little time to actually post qualifying performances. The impact is more severely felt in middle and long-distance events where the tactics of getting in the first three can militate against achieving the time required to qualify.

Indeed, as the next phase of the Diamond League kicks in with meetings over the weekend in Paris and Birmingham, only a dozen men (on a three per nation basis) have so far achieved the A-standard of 3:35.00 in the 1500 metres.

The situation is not as stark in the 800. Nineteen athletes (again on the three per nation basis and assuming I didn’t go cross-eyed counting) have attained the A-mark of 1:45.40.

Of course, one athlete per nation can be entered with a B-standard, but it is an alarming thought that just over a month before entries close, the world championships 1500 could be run as a straight final if it were restricted to A-qualifiers.

As noted, the 800 is better, but there are still not enough A-qualifiers to fill the three semi-finals so mysteriously beloved of championships organisers these days.

The state of the women’s 1500 is not much healthier, in terms of A-qualifiers. Only 16 women (three per nation) have run 4:05.90 or faster. Around 20 have bettered the 800 standard of 1:59.80.

The US championships had close and exciting racing in the distances, but no US man has an A-standard in the 1500. No British runner is qualified and no Australian either. We expect that to change, of course, but the time constraints leave little margin for error.

What’s even more disturbing, is the paucity of qualifying races. Outside the Diamond League and a couple of other meetings, very few men’s 1500s are won in 3:35.00 or better. Yet in the orchestrated races of the League, almost anyone can qualify. Eighth place in Doha and seventh in Shanghai ran under 3:35.00.

Admittedly, these were Kenyan runners who won’t count on a three per nation basis, but is eighth in Doha any more worthy of a run in the world championships right now than the winner of highly competitive races in the Australian or US titles (neither of whom is yet qualified).

 I’ve written before about the paucity of 10,000 metres races around the world which produce qualifying times. A 3:35 standard appears to be pushing the 1500 the same way.

There are hidden ‘kickers’ in other changes announced for this year. The cost to fans of the decision to make the first round of the 100 metres a ‘qualifying round’, with a small number going through to join the qualified athletes in what used to be the quarter-final round, has already been noted. No longer is it possible to buy a ticket for the first session of athletics at a world championships or Olympics and see all the best sprinters.

But there will be a nasty surprise awaiting athletes, too, if the change means a more savage pruning from the new ‘first round’ to the semi-finals. Sprinters who used to be able to count on at least two races, with a third, in the semis, if they ran their socks off, will now find themselves getting just one. Lucky these blokes will be safely off the track when they find out they won’t be coming back the next day!

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Regardless of the qualifying standards, it’s been a good week for Australian distance runners, with Jeff Riseley and Kaila McKnight added to the Daegu team after achieving the standards in the men’s 800 and women’s 1500, respectively.

With Craig Mottram and Collis Birmingham racing over 5000 metres in the Birmingham DL on Sunday and Riseley, Tamsyn Manou (nee Lewis) running the 800, and Ryan Gregson and Jeremy Roff among those chasing the 1500 qualifier over the coming weeks, let’s hope several more join them in the team for Daegu.

Footnote: Matt Centrowitz, Leonel Manzano and Andrew Wheating, the US Daegu men's 1500 selections (Bernard Lagat, second in the trial, ceded his place to Wheating), all got the world championships A-standard at the Paris DL. Rather proving the point about DL races, trials winner Centrowitz finished 11th (3:34.69), Manzano sixth (3:33.66) and Wheating ninth (3:34.39).

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This weekend will see athletes from Australia and New Zealand lining up on the track in Ireland, France, Germany, and Holland.

In Cork, Ireland many ‘ANZAC’s will be competing at the 60^th Cork City Sports Athletics Meet. From Australia, James Kaan and Brett Robinson and Zoe Buckman will compete over 1500m in Cork, who will be joined by Kiwi's Hannah Newbould and Olympic Silver Medalist Nick Willis. Other Kiwi’s competing in Cork include Elizabeth Lamb in the High Jump and Aaron Pulford in the 3000m who is backing up from his 3^rd place at the British U23 5,000m champ’s last week. Australian David McNeil is also entered in the 3000m.

At the same time the Meeting International in Sotteville les Rouen, France Australians Ben Offereins will contest the 400m, while Jeremy Roff will line up in the 1500m. In the Long Jump Robbie Crowther is entered, with Queensland’s Henry Frayne is in the Triple Jump.

Both Craig Mottram and Mark Fountain are entered in the 1500 at the Mondon Keien Meeting in Uden, Holland, while Mitchell Watt will be in Germany at the Bad Langensalza Long Jump Meet.

Stay tuned to Runner’s Tribe for results.

 

Over the years my coach Ken Green and I had toyed with the idea of running a 5k on the track.  Or more to the point I had managed to avoid the distance each season by running 800 metres to work on speed for my 1500 metres instead.  I have come to the realisation I am not quick enough to mix it up in an 800m and I never enjoyed them much anyway.   It was not until the end of last track season I finally gave in to the constant jokes and banter about my 5k personal best that I decided to eventually attempt the 12.5 laps of the track.  No road race or cross country over the same distance is as accurate as the track in my mind so using my Noosa Bolt time as my defence in arguments was flawed.

Normally I prefer to have had some solid months of training under my belt before trying to race longer distances but time was of the essence.   It all seemed to have come around so quickly following Commonwealth Games but in reality October was very late for a major championship thus it was more the start of the season for me rather than the end.

Once the decision was made I was 100% committed.  Perhaps it may have been wiser to trial the distance in the New Year after a hard training block but I had committed to running the VIC 5000m championships a few weeks earlier.   

Luckily the NSW 3000m Championships were held about ten days prior to my 5000m debut which allowed me to get in a solid hit out against my training partner James Nipperess who is in good shape at the moment.  He proved that when he left me for dead in the last 600m.  However Ken suggested I would be better for it ten days later of which I agreed.

The day I dreaded had finally arrived along with typical Melbourne weather.  Overcast skies combined with wind and rain did not do much for my motivation.  I spent the morning on the train out to Mt Waverley for treatment from Darren Fulton (Miritis Massage).  Once back in the city I headed out into the rain for a light run around the streets of Melbourne with Chinny (Russel Dessaix-Chin).

The rest of the afternoon was easy going as I took a nap before catching a kebab (cab) out to Olympic Park in peak hour traffic.  I probably would have been better to walk as we crawled along at a snail’s pace.  As the evening unfolded the wind began to drop which made for still conditions though the track was still wet.  This did not deter me at all as I focused on warming up and getting ready to race.

It did not dawn on me until I lined up on the start line that I was actually going to be running more than just a 3000m.  I tried to block the negative thoughts out of my mind as well as the old lap counter at the finish which read 12 laps to go.  Thankfully I had help from Ed Gunby, Chinny and Jason Woolhouse along the way.  Although the split at 3k (8.26) was a bit off what I had wanted I was happy to still be feeling comfortable.  At this point it was Jason and I taking lap for lap.  It was by no means planned but unfolded nicely as we shared the workload.  I felt I needed to pick up the tempo rather than leave it for a last lap all out assault.  With 800m to go I gradually increased the pace and managed to pull away for a win which is very rare for me but I hope to one day change the tag of being a bridesmaid.  It was a good tussle between Jason and I which I really enjoyed and I wish him well for Zatopek 10k.  I don’t envy anyone racing 10k on the track; it would be a tough gig, no doubt.

On reflection of the race I had hoped for a faster time than 13.56.77 but did not play out the way I had expected.  Nonetheless it was sub 14mins which now gives me something to build on as I look to get in some solid training over the next few months.  This will include a stint at the infamous Falls Creek from Christmas into the New Year.  I am really looking forward to this trip as I do every year, especially with so many people from the athletics community getting together to do the one thing we all love….Running!

Many thanks go out to Athletics Victoria for helping the trip to Melbourne go so smoothly and I look forward to running on Melbourne Olympic Park for the last time in April at Nationals.

By Justin Rinaldi

Looks like it’s going to be a ripper of a race on the weekend, so I’ve whipped together a quick preview. Sorry if any of the listed times are off or if I have overlooked someone, but I don’t really have the time to check them all in my lunch break. I’m sure, as always, I’m pretty close. Good luck to all those racing. Vic Champs doesn’t look to be that strong on the Men’s side, but I might do a preview tomorrow for that nonetheless.

Listed in order of personal best times for 800m

Lachlan Renshaw 23 sb 1:47.26 pb 1:45.73 (09)
Paid a heavy price for trying to bridge the gap between the Aussies and Rudisha (pushing a little too hard between 300 and 500m) at the Melb GP this year and had to watch 3 guys sail past him in the last 60m to record fast pb’s in the process. Ran a recent AR over 600m 1:15.14 and has recorded 5 800m times quicker than next fastest on the list. Has increases his mileage this year and his 1500m times have dropped accordingly, but still needs to ensure he doesn’t lose any of his speed (45.7R). Recent eye infection forced him to miss the big race in NZ, so needs some solid hit outs this weekend to round in to top shape in time for Nationals. A second quicker than anyone in the field and has been the best 800m runner in the country for the last 3 years, deserves to be the heavy favourite

Tristan Garrett 22 sb 1:46.66 pb 1:46.66 (10)
Just a 1:49.13 man in 09, Garrett has made a rapid transition from 400 to 800 over the last 12-15months. Paid his dues in Europe last winter and has come out all the better for it this season. Former 400m guy with a 47.00pb and has run 47.61 this year. Was 2nd over 600 to Renshaw’s AR in 1:15.86, before he smashed his pb in Melb (2 sec improvement). Needs to prove that wasn’t just a one off before he can be considered the real deal, but I feel that there is more to come from the little guy. If it’s windy, I’d suggest finding someone else to sit behind!

James Gurr 26 sb 1:46.77 pb 1:46.77 (10)
Like Garret, Gurr has made a good transition from 400 (46.53pn from 06) to 800m over the last few years. Stepped up while attending university at Seton Hall in the US for 3 years. Ironically, Seton Hall recently dropped track and field from it’s program and has a long tradition of producing great 800m guys (Tracey Baskin, Al Royster, Ned Brooks to name a few…all ended up running for SMTC) over the last 20-25 years under Coach Moon. Gurr was also pulled to a quick time in Melb and will also need to prove this was not a one off (next quickest time is 1:48.51 ). Also ran a fast 1:16.59 for 600m recently.

Nick Bromley 27 sb 1:47.60 pb 1:47.05 (08)
4 time National Champ and probably the best Australian in 1:47 paced races ever. Hard pressed to ever count him out as he somehow finds a way to win races when you do. Has been a little inconsistent this year, but always manages to turn things around just in time for the champs. Has a 3:39.12 1500 pb to his name, so will handle the rounds well. Trying to double this weekend might prove too much in this classy field. Happy birthday Bromdog.

Werner Botha 25 sb 1:48.22 pb 1:47.54 (06)
God given talent, but has been somewhat inconsistent over the last few years. Returned home to Qld after spending a few years living/training in NSW and has shown glimpses of his old form, but again only ran a slow 1:53 in the fast Melb race. Surprised all by picking up a medal at Nationals last year and could very well do the same this weekend, but will need to be at his very best to do so.



James Kaan 20 sb 1:50.27 pb 1:47.62 (08)
Former junior star that ran 1:47.62 when just 17 years of age (I hope that is not an omen for Rowe). Missed most of last season thru injury, but bounced back with a solid cross country season over the winter and built a good base. Has been more focused on the 1500 this year and ran a pb of 3:43.04 last week when chasing Gregson home off a slow pace in NZ. His 800’s just haven’t seemed to click this year, but should be able to run back in the 1:48’s this week end.

Mark Abercromby 32 sb 1:49.96 pb 1:48.40 (06)
The oldest man in the in the preview at 32, who traditionally dons the famed all white bodysuit of Syd Uni. Missed a few years with injury, but now looks like he is hitting his straps after winning the ACT champs in sub 1:50 last week end (also the venue of his pb run). Always in the tick of things and can never be over looked. Might lack the basic speed to challenge the top end of the field, but should give his pb a tickle.

Tom Richardson 27 sb 1:51.25 pb 1:48.65 (05)
T-Bone also has missed a few years with injury after a motorbike crash…lucky to be walking let alone sprinting 800m. Ran a SB last weekend, but will need to lift a little if he wants to make the final.

Jeremy Roff 27 sb 1:49.45 pb 1:48.79 (09)
Low on the list of pb’s, but not low on the list of talent with a 3:34.39 1500m pb next to his name. Unlike public opinion, Roff does have a kick that can’t be underestimated. Recently finished 4th in the big 800m in NZ and will be looking to drop at least a second from his 800m pb run in the Vic champs last year. Will be using this weeend to sharpen up for the 1500m come Nationals.

JR’s Top 3

1st Renshaw 1:47.17
2nd Bromely 1:47.50 (if he doesn’t double)
3rd Gurr 1:47.51
**Garrett to miss out on a medal after doing most of the early work (unless he reads this preview first).

It's a gloomy summers morning, and as I look across the road, a sea of runners are making their way in either direction around the well known 'Tan' track in Melbourne. As I contemplate this scene for a second, my attention returns to my company, that of Australian 1500m runner Jeremy Roff. Having run the heats of the Victorian 800m titles last night, Roff and I have just finished an easy jog, and tuck into a coffee and muffin while we discuss all things running, and importantly, the running of the man opposite me.

For those who are unaware of Roff's exploits, it is a tale of hard work, determination and perseverance. While many of his junior age group counterparts were running mid to low 3:45's over 1500m, Roff wasn't. However, four years later, Roff was the one lining up on the start line of the Commonwealth Games 1500m final, a PB of 3:38.20 to his name, and a handful of senior medals in his possession. The final may not have been a PB run, but making it this far was a dream that every young athlete had dreamt of, and now Roff had achieved.


This year, Roff is taking a slightly different approach to previous years, focusing more on one or two main races, and training through the races in between. "Probably one of the mistakes Ken (Green) and I made was to taper for too many races last year, so this year we are going to make sure we keep the mileage up throughout the summer, instead of backing off every couple of weeks", Roff explained. "I am feeling good about how things are progressing so far. I have opened up the season with faster times than previous seasons. I am hitting better marks at training and also making sure I continue to do all the little things which over time add up."

 

His trip to Melbourne for the Vic Champs was all aimed at increasing his speed, whilst getting used to a Nationals program. Contesting the 800m involved running three rounds in four days, giving Roff the opportunity to get in plenty of race practice. One goal had set himself is to run a PB and break the 1minute50 mark, which he confesses is something that needs to happen to take the next step (Editors note: Roffy did indeed break the 1:50 mark, clocking 1:48.79).

"Most of the guys I am racing have run under 1:50, some as fast as 1:46, so I need to have that speed available for the back end of a 1500m if the pace turns out to be slow", states Roff. "The World Champs in Berlin will be a heat/semi/final affair, so I need to get used to that feeling of backing up as well. It's all well and good to be able to turn out good sessions on the track, but if you don't know how to put that hard work into a race, then you're not really achieving much".

One of the integral parts of Roff's development as an athlete is the yearly trip to Falls Creek, which he has been making for the last seven years. Being able to train with Roff and be part of Falls Creek in 2008/09, I was able to see just how much having time away from work and all other commitments can enhance ones running. "You basically train, recover, sleep, train, recover again, stretch and sleep", Roff describes. "You aren't tired from a days work. The only thing that tires you out is the work you are putting in. It's a fantastic way to get the most out of your body, and having nothing else clouding your mind."

From here, Roff will run the Sydney Track Classic, and the World Athletics Tour event in Melbourne, running in the 1500m in both. Following that, either a European or USA campaign will follow, based on how he is travelling. "We stayed in Wimbledon last year, and that was terrific", Roff revealed. "I would love to go back there, or somewhere else if a better offer comes up." Either way, Roff is doing all the right things, and with the careful guidance of Coach Green, and with his own steely determination, it seems anything is possible.


 

Editors Note: Jeremy fnished 3rd in the Final of the Vic Champs on Sunday, with a new PB of 1:48.79. Roffy then went on to place fourth at the Sydney Track Classic 1500m running a PB of 3:37.59 (World Champ B qualifier). The Runnerstribe team wish him all the best for the rest of the track season, and for the road to Berlin.

 

 

'It's a fantastic way to get the most out of your body, and having nothing else clouding your mind'
Jeremy Roff on training at Falls Creek