Gregson busts through record barrier

Sydney teenager Ryan Gregson has smashed Craig Mottram’s Australian Under 20 3000m record with a sensational run at the NSW 3000m Championships at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday evening.

Gregson took a second-and-a-half off the mark held by the 2005 World Championships bronze medalist to record a time of 8.01.26.

The 17 year-old placed third in the race behind Ben St Lawrence, who won the NSW State title in a time of 7.55.39 ahead of Commonwealth Games 1500m representative Jeremy Roff.

Gregson, a local of Wollongong, was delighted with the performance that also set a new Australian under-18 record.

“To break any record is amazing, but to get one of Craig’s is just crazy!” said Gregson after the race. “He’s gone on to do so many great things.”

Gregson ran an intelligent race, staying toward the rear of the leading pack which contained older, more experienced athletes of the calibre of three-time Australian 800m champion Nick Bromley and current Australian cross country champion Jeff Hunt. Gradually the pack thinned as the unrelenting pace took its toll on the athletes, but Gregson maintained his composure. He tailed Hunt, before passing him down the home straight to claim the bronze medal.

“The nice thing now that the record is mine is that any time I run a personal best over the next two years it’s going to be a new record,” said Gregson.

Craig Mottram was two years older than Gregson when he set the previous mark.

Gregson represented Australia earlier in the year at the World Youth Championships in the Czech Republic, finishing a creditable fifth in the 1500 metres. Before the end of this year he has also set his sights on breaking the Australian under-18 records over 1500m and 5000m.

It was a night for 17 year-olds, with Campbelltown’s Chloe Tighe winning the women’s event in 9.28.51. Tighe made up a deficit of 10 metres over the final lap to take victory ahead of World Junior Mountain Running champion Lara Tamsett.

Results:

Men’s NSW 3000m Championship

1 Ben St Lawrence (St George Athletics Club) 7.55.39
2 Jeremy Roff (Randwick-Botany Harriers) 7.59.26
3 Ryan Gregson (Kembla Joggers) 8.01.26 (Australian under-20, under-18 record)
4 Jeff Hunt (Randwick-Botany Harriers) 8.01.94
5 Nick Bromley (UTS Northern Suburbs) 8.06.35

Women’s NSW 3000m Championship

1 Chloe Tighe (Campbelltown Collegians) 9.28.51 (World Junior qualifying performance)
2 Lara Tamsett (Sydney University) 9.31.11
3 Veronique Molan (Sydney University) 9.34.73
4 Selma Kajan (Randwick-Botany Harriers) 9.43.04
5 Bridey Delaney (St George Athletics Club) 9.43.29

Courtesy Tim McGrath, Athletics NSW