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Five emerging Aussie marathon stars join Prime Minister's Team
Five of Australia’s emerging marathon stars have been identified to join the ‘PM’s Five’, a partnership to encourage excellence in sport and business.
Each year the incumbent Prime Minster honours with selection, five up-and-coming Australian marathon runners who have the potential, desire, talent and attitude to achieve on the world stage.
Brett Cartwright (SA), Hayley Field (nee McGregor) (VIC), Kate Smyth (VIC), Lisa-Jane Weightman (VIC) and Michael Shelley (QLD) have all been identified and selected for this outstanding opportunity.
The athletes will be provided with financial assistance to help them achieve their marathon goals and sporting mentors who can offer guidance and advice.
Brett Cartwright started athletics when he was nine years old. After suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome for six years, the 33-year-old bounced back to compete at four world cross country events and the Manchester Commonwealth Games in the 10,000m, finishing 18th.
Cartwright will be mentored by Rob de Castella MBE.
Athens Olympian Haley Field (nee McGregor) missed most of 2005 and 2006 ravaged by injury, however the dual national 5000m champion, is now back on track and looking forward to a successful 2007 campaign.
A member of the 2002, 2004 and 2005 Australian World Cross Country teams, Field won the Zatopek and National Cross Country titles in 2003 and competed in the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002, finishing eleventh in the 5000m. The 27-year-old will be mentored by Steve Moneghetti.
Kate Smyth from Victoria made her marathon debut in Canberra in 1998 when she ran 3.20.58. In 1999 she returned and broke 3 hours for the first time with a 2.59.21. She continued her steady improvement and six years later ran 2.33.41 at the Chicago Marathon slashing her personal best time by six minutes to place an outstanding ninth and in doing so qualified for the Australian Commonwealth Games team.
The 34-year old was responsible for one of the memorable moments of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games when she courageously finished seventh in the marathon, but not before staggering to the line, swaying back over it, wobbling and then falling to the track as a result of severe dehydration.
It has been a big year for Smyth who took out the New Zealand Half Marathon Championships in June with a personal best time of 1.13.03. At the Chicago Marathon on 22 October, Smyth finished in 14th position with a new personal best time of 2:33.39. She will be mentored by 1990 Commonwealth Games marathon silver medallist Tani Ruckle.
Twenty-seven-year-old Lisa-Jane Weightman from Melbourne made her representative debut at the IAAF World Road Running Championships held in Hungary in October. It what was a valuable experience for the 2005 Australian Cross Country bronze medallist, who finished 37th in a time of 1:10.51 against an extremely strong field.
In July, she finished second at the Gold Coast half marathon in a time of 1:12.54. Weightman will be mentored by Commonwealth Games champion Kerryn McCann.
A bronze medallist at the Telstra Australian Cross Country titles in August this year, Michael Shelley from Queensland will be mentored by Pat Farmer MP.
Shelley competed in the 2004 World Cross Country Championships and has also participated in various marathon events around the country.
Each athlete will remain a member of the PM’s Five for one year.
For further media information or to arrange athlete interviews, please contact:
Michelle Cook – Athletics Australia Media
0430 177 668 or michelle@jumpmedia.com.au
Or
Dora Hoju – the Hon Pat Farmer MP
0423 023 012 or dora.hoju@dest.gov.au
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