Interview with Junior 1500m runner Anna Laman

How long have you been running?

I started running in the U6’s, as a 5 year old at Little Athletics, representing Campbelltown Collegines. So that's 11 years!

My personal best for 1500m is 4:13.62 (The Sydney Track Classic 2011), for the 800m it is 2:06.49 (Australian Youth Championships, 2011)

What else do you do next to running?

I enjoy taking part in Duke of Edinburgh, playing the saxophone, hockey and touch football at school and swimming

At Sydney Track Classic you ran a 4.13.62 in the 1500m. This time placed you no. 6 on the Australian all time junior ranking list moving you past the likes of Australian representatives Benita Willis and Eloise Wellings.

Can you put in words that experience? Did you expect to perform so well?

The Sydney Track Classic was an amazing event. I enjoyed every single moment of the race before and after. Lining up on the start line next to some of the best women in Australia and the world was amazing enough, and running a pb of 4:13.62 was just a bonus. I didn't think I was going to perform so well, and it just capped the Athletics season off so well. To know I was then placed 6^th on the Australian all time junior ranking list blew me away. The race gave me so much self-determination and got me looking forward to racing at the World Youth Championships in Lille, France.

You have managed to claim U18 national titles in the 800m, 1500m on track and also over 4km at last years National Cross Country Championships.

 What event would you consider being your favourite and what event do you see yourself focusing on in the future?

I would have to say, the 1500m is my favourite event at the moment. It’s not too long or too short. I love the 1500m, as it's a fast race, over with pretty quick and can be tactical. I do see myself focusing on it in the future but who knows what the future may bring as a year ago my favourite race was the 800m, and 2 years ago it was 3km.

In July you will make your Australian team debut in Lille France at the World Youth Championships. 

Last year before the Australian track season started, was the times you have been able to achieve over the season and making the Australian youth team a goal of yours you had set?

Before the Australian track season started I saw the World Youth Championship qualifying times but didn't really believe I’d be able to achieve them, it was a distant goal. But as I gradually began to improve, I realised it was achievable and trained hard to finally reach that goal.

Having a time like 4.13 coming into the World Youth Championships in Lillie (FRA) in July must be a big confidence booster?

Yes, running 4.13 at The Sydney Track Classic is a confidence booster to run well at the World Youth Championships in Lille in July. It was an enormous personal best, and I know I just need to keep going with consistent training and hopefully the World Youth Championships will go well, but primarily I want to embrace the whole experience and enjoy it. I’m definitely looking forward to racing to the best of my ability.

What will you be aiming for at these championships?

My aim is to do as best as I can in France in July. A personal best time would be fabulous! But just being able to run next to the best in the world at such a massive event will be such an eye-opening experience. I’m going to make the most of the opportunity and enjoy every bit.

Will you be making the double with the 800m and 1500m in Lille?

It would be fun to be able to do both the 800m and 1500m at Lille, but Athletics Australia only allows an athlete to race one middle distance event for the World Youth Champs. I understand their decision, as it’s extremely hard to back up for two middle-distance races. So I’m racing the 1500m.

What do you put down as contributing to your huge leap in performance times over the last year?

My coach has been a great contribution to my gradual improvement in performance in the last year. He’s always had emphasise on long-term goals, with emphasise on consistency of training. The hard work that I’ve been doing for the past year is certainly paying off.

Is there a sports person who you look up to or inspires you?

Georgie Clarke and Kaila McKnight are definitely athletes who I look up to. Georgie Clark in particular has had many ups and downs in her career but has achieved so much. She also did amazingly well as a junior. An experience with Georgie Clarke I will always remember was when I paced the 3000m at The Hunter Track Classic early this year, it was the first time I had ever paced a race and I enjoyed it so much. Georgie Clarke placed 2^nd in the race and talked to me afterwards. I was amazed at how much she could talk after such a fast race firstly and amazed that she was talking to ME! I certainly took in every word she said.

Past junior stars at your age such as Georgie Clarke who ran 4.12.51 and Stephanine Twell        (ENG but from Scotland) 4.26. 7 have gone on to represent their countries at Olympics and World championships. Both runners also have medaled at World Juniors and World Youth level.

Do you believe this is a possible goal for yourself in the next coming months at World Youth and following year at World Juniors?

It would be amazing if I could follow in the footsteps of these amazing runners! It would also be fantastic to race at World Juniors next year and with a little bit of experience after running at World Youth Champs in France it would be another fantastic opportunity and goal.

What do you believe it takes to make that next step from running fast at a national junior level to a world level?

I think it takes a lot of determination and self-belief to get from a national junior level to a world level in Athletics. I think it’s so important to truly believe you can achieve your goals; otherwise you have already failed before you have even started.

In the coming months Runnerstribe.com will be following closely Anna’s progress as she prepares and looks towards making her first Australian debut at World Youth Championships in July. 

By Lara Nicod