From Nitro to Indoor – No Rest for our Skippers

By Grace Kalac – Runner’s Tribe

Australia’s current premier distance runner Ryan Gregson has claimed his fourth race win in under a fortnight, winning the mile race at the AIT International Grand Prix meet in Athlone, Ireland on Wednesday in a time of 3:56.49. The indoor track, a territory unfamiliar to most Australians, proved no issue for Gregson as he secured a convincing win against a field of international competitors. The seasoned sub-four-minute miler will continue to test his abilities on the indoor terrain over the next few weeks, racing in Birmingham and Madrid.

Gregson flew into Europe on Sunday following the conclusion of Melbourne’s inaugural Nitro series, where he gallantly led the Australian team to an overall second place. Once again competing in unfamiliar events, Gregson ran on all three nights and took a trifecta of victories, once in the mixed medley relay and twice in the mile elimination race.

Gregson’s fellow Australian Nitro captain Genevieve LaCaze is also competing in the indoor European circuit over the coming weeks. Not allowing a busy fortnight of Nitro racing to deter her, LaCaze added yet another personal best to her impressive collection, placing 6th in the 1500m in Athlone in a time of 4:13.19. Australian 1500m specialist Zoe Buckman finished 2nd in the same race in 4:11.18.

Despite the fact that indoor tracks cease to exist in Australia, our athletes are demonstrating their superb current form as they perform with class in the overseas indoor circuit. Their early fitness is indicative of their capabilities of medal contention at the World Championships in London come August this year.

Lights, camera, but not quite the action yet at the #BarclaycardArena. Striding out in prep for tomorrow afternoons #MüllerIndoorGPBham ? #3000m

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Main cover photo by Con Chronis/Nitro Athletics

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