17.02.2008

Birmingham inspires fast finish

He was third but Victoria's Collis Birmingham can take a lot of the credit for Saturday night's ripping 1500 metres at the Sydney Grand Prix.

The vocal crowd at Sydney Olympic Park climbed to a roar when, leading into the final straight, the 23 year-old broke from the pack to make his move.

It ignited a mad dash that saw six runners cross the line in under 3 minutes and 40 seconds - three in Olympic B-qualifying times.

Birmingham had looked to overrun the field, but inspired a very strong response from New South Wales’ Bradley Woods (3.37.63) and Queenslander Mitch Kealey (3.37.65) – who have built a healthy rivalry over the last year.

Three-time Australian 800m champion Nick Bromley (3.39.12) and Jeremy Roff (3.39.72) followed suit to round out the top five.

Such was the intensity of the finish that Woods fell over the line to take a superb win.

Birmingham was also one of three who produced personal bests in the entertaining contest, with his previous best a 3.39.10 effort set in London in August.

In 2007, World Championships representative Mark Fountain was the only Australian to run under 3 minutes 38 seconds.

“It was a good pace,” Birmingham said. “With the PB, it was exactly what I want.”

Birmingham has emerged as one of the country’s most exciting distance runners, claiming the national title over 10,000 metres in Melbourne in December.

That was the race that Birmingham produced a kick in the final lap to leave Martin Dent in his wake after the pair had exchanged leads for the good part of 25 minutes.

Birmingham also enjoyed a convincing win over 5000 metres at January’s Briggs Memorial Classic in Hobart, winning by 20 seconds.

It was unusual then to see him run 1500, but there was reason for it.

Birmingham’s Olympic aspirations will be put to the sword over what is expected to be a quick 5000 metres at Thursday night’s World Athletics Tour meet in Melbourne, loaded with a field including defending champion Craig Mottram, Ethiopians Tariku Bekele and Abreham Cherkos Feleke and Kenyans Shadrack Kosgei and Collins Kosgei.

It will also be the Australian championship for the event.

Shadrack Kosgei finished Saturday night’s 1500 in eighth place in 3.40.90 with another Kenyan, Bernard Kiptum, the strongest of the internationals in sixth in 3.39.74.

Kiptum was well-placed throughout the race and faded only in the blanket finish, but for Birmingham the quality Kenyan presence was important.

“It was a great race and good to have them compete,” he said. “It was good to be running fast because there are going to be some fast guys there on Thursday, so I feel comfortable doing fast work and I’ll be confident going into the race.”

Birmingham attributes his fast-finishing to a focus on strength training.

“I’ve been doing the work up at Falls Creek,” he noted. “I might be able to run a quicker 200 than some of these guys but strength in the finish is (what I’m after).”

By Steven Lavell