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

Around Christmas time I found out I had a bad bacteria in my stomach. It was something called “helicobactor pylori”, which I have preciously had three times. They say you can get it in China ... from animals! They don’t know too much about it, but I was told that usually if you get rid of it the first time it’s unlikely to come back. Not in my case! 

I spent the majority of the season on antibiotics to fight off the helicobactor and a few chest infections, sinus infections and throat infections which was definitely frustrating. 
My first race was the Sydney Track Classic where I finished 3rd in not the fastest ever time, however I was just so happy to be back out racing. I followed that up with Melbourne the week later, which was better and once again very enjoyable. 

is also the same place where my new manager, Sam Maxwell, is based, and I got to properly meet him for the first time. Sam was great. He made me feel like an athlete again and made me realise that it was just one race, and there was plenty more out there! 



I left feeling better about things. 

I had to complete my 10 week teaching Internship which started on the 31st of March and ended on the 4th of June. It was a long and tiring 10 weeks. Surrounded by secondary students all day and constantly having to be talking, yelling, marking ... the list goes on. The experience was great and the school I was teaching at was fantastic. 

Ricky Sims Interview Manager of Usain Bolt - Pre Berlin World Champs

© 2009 The Runner's Tribe, all rights reserved. Published Saturday August 15, 2009

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