Further Information 

Competition Stats

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
800 metres: 1992 (U20) - 3rd, 1993 (U18, U20) - 1st, 1994 (U20) - 5th
1500 metres: 1993 (U18, U20) – 1st, 1995 (U20) - 1st (Open) 4th (3rd Australian), 1996 - 5th (4th Australian), 1999 - 1st, 2000 - 3rd (2nd Australian), 2002 - 2nd, 2003 - inj, 2004 - 1st, 2005 - 1st, 2006 - 1st, 2007 - 2nd, 2008 - DNC, 2009 - 1st

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Commonwealth Games: 2002 - 1500m 5th (4.09.38), 2006 - 1500m 2nd (4.06.64), 5000m 5th (15.02.90)
Olympic Games: 2000 - 1500m 11th heat (4.12.90), 2004 - 1500m 11th heat (4.09.25), 2008 – 1500m 5th heat (4:06.64)
World junior championships: 1994 - 800m 4th heat (2.10.14), 1500m 7th heat (4.25.32)
World University Champs: 1999 - 1500m 4th (4.15.28)
World Cup: 2002 - 1500m 8th (4.12.33), 2006 - 1500m 3rd (4.02.82)
World cross country championships: 2004 - 4km 15th, 2005 - 4km 13th
World championships: 2005 - 1500m withdrew injured; 2007 - 1500m semi 7th (4.16.20)

ANNUAL PROGRESSION:
800 metres:
1992 2.08.55
1993 2.06.2
1994 2.05.97
1999 2.02.81
2000 2.05.84
2002 2.03.38
2004 2.03.16
2005 2.04.47

1500 metres:
1992 4.26.02
1993 4.21.56
1994 4.19.9
1999 4.12.89
2000 4.06.09
2001 4.19.72
2002 4.08.54
2003 4.17.23
2004 4.04.73
2005 4.06.80
2006 4.00.93
2007 4.03.71
2008 4.02.44
2009 4.11.62

5000 metres:
2004 15.42.17
2005 15.29.88
2006 15.02.90
2009 15.54.64

EVENTS / PERSONAL BESTS:
800 metres: 2004 - 2.03.16 - Leverkusen (GER)
1000 metres: 2000 - 2.42.35 - Castleisland (IRL)
1500 metres: 2006 - 4.00.93 - Stockholm (SWE)
Mile: 2007 - 4.23.40 - Melbourne
3000 metres: 2004 - 8.49.46 - Madrid (ESP)
5000 metres: 2006 - 15.02.90 - Melbourne

RECORD(S):
National record: 1500 metres - 4.00.93, Stockholm (SWE) 25/07/06
National Indoor record: mile - 4.28.03, Boston (USA) 21/01/07

Interesting Facts

Sarah was born and grew up in Western Australia before moving to Melbourne to further her athletic career. She spent time working at Athletics Victoria as a Development Officer, before becoming a full time athlete.

She married long-time partner Jai Thomas in Las Vegas after the 2007 international season.

Sporting Career

Although she won medals at Australian championships as a young athlete, it was not until the season of 1999-2000 that Sarah really made an impact. At that time she became involved in a frenetic period of 1500m running as four athletes vied for three Olympic berths. She pushed teenager Georgie Clarke to the fastest time ever on Australian soil on January 30 in Hobart, then moved to No. 2 on the Australian all-time list when she ran 4:06.09 in Nice in July. In the end Sarah was the second Australian home at the Olympic trials, securing her selection.

After a year off in 2001 Sarah was back in good form during the 2002 domestic season, during which she was rewarded with Commonwealth Games selection. She prepared well for the Games, eventually placing fifth in the 1500m final followed by an eighth in the World Cup.

As had sadly often occurred during her career, her late 2003 domestic season was affected by injuries including knee bursitis and a hamstring insertion problem. But she was back in form the next summer, winning the Olympic trial and placing 15th in the short course event at the world cross country championships. In June 2004 the major breakthrough came on the track when she clocked 4:04.82 and then 4:04.73, also lowering her PBs over 3000m and 5000m. Once again she had to be content with a heat run at the Olympics.

A third national 1500m title came her way in March 2005 ahead of another good run for 13th in the short course at the world cross country, however another injury, this time to her calf, forced Sarah to miss the Helsinki world championships.

After a solid domestic season in 2005-06 Sarah was ready for a strong assault on the Commonwealth Games. After finding herself boxed in for most of the 1500m she finally forced her way out to grab silver and also finished fifth in the 5000m in a PB. A very successful European tour followed, netting a national 1500m record in Stockholm, a spot in the World Athletics Final, a third placing in the Athens World Cup and a win at the Yokohama Super Meet.

An Australian indoor mile record in Boston kicked off 2007 for Sarah, followed by some good domestic form including a new outdoor PB over the distance. Her international campaign began well with a solid fifth in her opening race at the IAAF Golden League meeting in Oslo (NOR) in June.

In August Sarah competed in her first world championships. Leading at the bell in her heat, she was overrun and didn’t automatically qualify for the semi-finals. However, she progressed as a non-automatic and lined up for the semi-finals. In an extremely slow and tactical race she moved into the lead by the bell and battled through to finish a close seventh in the first semi. A nervous wait ensued as she watched the other semi-final unfold much more quickly, resulting in her missing out on a place in the final.

Sarah spent much of the Australian 2007/2008 summer on the sidelines.  Returning from injury she travelled abroad, significantly improving with each run, culminating with a 4:02.44 seasons best in Athens on July 13. It would be enough to cement her place in the Olympic team.

At her third Olympic Games Sarah ran the third fastest time ever by an Australian at Olympic level over 1500m (4:06.64), finishing fifth. Her efforts came agonisingly close to securing the Victorian a spot in the final, missing by only one position and a mere 1.03 seconds.

Family connections

Sarah’s husband Jai Thomas is a former nationally-ranked 800m runner and spent time as Cathy Freeman’s training partner in the lead-up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics.