Aussies in action in Asian swing of World Athletics Tour

This weekend's action not only marks the return of the World Athletics Tour after a three-month hiatus, but the comeback of  Australia's 1500m hopes Sarah Jamieson and Lisa Corrigan who are endeavouring to battle their way into the Beijing team after a horrid run of injuries.

Tonight will be the first major international hit out of the year for many Australian athletes with steeplechasers Donna MacFarlane, Melissa Rollison, Victoria Mitchell and 1500m runner Mitch Kealey joining Jamieson in the sweltering heat at the Qatar Super Grand Prix in Doha.

On Saturday night, attention turns to the Osaka Grand Prix, where our 4 x 100m relay boys will attempt to consolidate their place in the world’s top 16 and qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

Currently Australia are sitting at no. 11, although our place is not guaranteed with a number of quality nations biting at our heels at this early stage in the season. If the team can stop the clock in 39 seconds or under, they have every chance – the rest of their Olympic journey will be in the hands of the selectors.

For Robbie Crowther (long jump), Patrick Johnson (100m/200m) and Corrigan (1500m), this Saturday night in Osaka is another opportunity to hunt down that elusive A-qualifier and keep their Olympic dreams alive.

Olympic 400m nominee Sean Wroe will also return to Nagai Stadium, the scene of his 45.25 personal best at last year’s world titles.

Middle distance runner Sarah Jamieson is on a mission to prove to selectors that she has amply recovered from hamstring tendonitis which ruled her out of the 2008 Australian domestic season.

The niggling hamstring issue initially began causing concern during the 2007 domestic season; however by the end of last year’s European season, when her training was suffering, something had to be done. With Beijing at the forefront of her mind, she made the crucial decision to take October, November and December of '07 off training.

What followed was meticulous rehabilitation. Jamieson hit the weights hard in order to regain strength in the troublesome muscle.  Blood from her arm was injected into her left hamstring to improve circulation and boost the body’s ability to repair, and she also had an epidural to loosen her back and hamstrings.

However the injury wasn’t the only factor playing on Jamieson’s mind. Following a disappointing campaign at the World Championships in Osaka, Jamieson decided she needed to make some major changes to keep her Olympic dreams alive.

Deciding a new direction was required and following some extensive research, Jamieson approached renowned College track coach Ray Treacy, who has now taken over the coaching reigns of the two-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games silver medallist.

“I researched a few coaches and liked the way Ray Treacy operated. He is a college coach at Providence College in Rhode Island. He has a multi-cultural group of pro athletes who went through Providence College and have remained coached by him,” explained the 33-year-old Victorian.

“I recently spent five weeks training in the States with them. I am coached by correspondence and remain in constant contact with Ray. I think being an older, experienced athlete allows this situation to work.”

The last time Jamieson graced the track at a major meet was back at the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart nearly six months ago. Raring to go in Doha, Jamieson feels she is ready to prove to selector’s that she’s back on track after four months of solid training.

“Training has been going well and I have been improving at a pleasing rate. I have the Olympics as the end goal and everything I do is tailored towards running fast in August.

The last couple of months have been about just getting the miles in while increasing the speed on the track.”

“Doha is all about getting amongst it and having a solid hit out. The field looks strong so I will get a chance to see where I'm at. I know that I will improve on whatever I do here.

“It is important for me to get back into race mode. You can train away until the cows come home but there is nothing like a good race!”

With only six weeks remaining until final Olympic selections are made, Jamieson will return to the States after her season opener in Doha for a month of training under Treacy’s watchful eye. On her agenda are the Reebok Grand Prix (May 31) and Prefontaine Classic (June 8), before journeying to her base in Cologne, Germany, where the lucrative and highly competitive European season awaits.

Jamieson’s rival from the 2007 domestic season, Lisa Corrigan, also returns to competition on Saturday night after battling her own run of injuries.

“I have been back in full training with no major set backs, a few days off here and there with niggles, but the Achilles has been fine at last!” said the 23-year-old.

“The last few months at training have been a bit of a mixture. Obviously after my injury I have to get my endurance base back but the past couple of weeks I’ve been focusing on race pace and lactic tolerance work, to get my legs used to running fast again.

“The focus while I was injured was to gain strength so I was doing a lot in the gym, pool and bike and I feel that has really helped my strength. I feel like a different runner and am looking forward to racing, having had a slightly different preparation.”

Corrigan already has one ‘A’ Qualifier to her name, her 4.06.64 race in Monaco last year dipping under the 4.07 required. Can she add another to her belt this weekend and force the hand of selectors?

“I am definitely going to try and get the 4.07 time out, but first up race is always a tough one and a bit of a shock to the system. But I know I am in good shape and hopefully if the conditions are good and the race works out well, then I can do it. Be nice to get it out first up!”
 
Qatar Grand Prix – Friday, 9 May 2008 (commences 1am AEST on Saturday morning)

1500m - Sarah Jamieson, Mitch Kealey
3000m steeplechase - Donna MacFarlane, Melissa Rollison, Victoria Mitchell 

Osaka Grand Prix – Saturday, 10 May 2008 (commences 3pm AEST on Saturday afternoon)

100m - Patrick Johnson, Otis Gowa
200m – Patrick Johnson, Daniel Batman, Matt Davies
400m – Sean Wroe
800m – Jeff Riseley
1500m – Lisa Corrigan, Veronique Molan
400m H – Brendan Cole, Lauren Boden
High Jump – Cal Pearce
Long Jump – Robbie Crowther, John Thornell, Tim Parravicini, Kerrie Taurima
4 x 100m – Otis Gowa, Josh Ross, Matt Davies, Isaac Ntiamoah, Adam Basil, Aaron Rouge-Serret, Melissa Breen, Elly Graf, Jody Henry, Lauren O'Sullivan, Laura Whaler