23.12.2009

Going the distance for World Cross Country Trial

Australia’s most talented female middle distance runners were joined by those most likely to follow in their footsteps in Melbourne this past weekend for a development camp led by Australian 1500m record-holder Sarah Jamieson.

Designed to establish an informal mentor-like program, the camp allowed for female athletes to come together and train whilst addressing the issues most relevant to their sport in an open forum.

Florida-based athlete and winner of last year's City to Surf Rebecca Lowe said the camp was a great experience and important in ensuring her ongoing development.

“I roomed with Sarah (Jamieson) and it was a great opportunity,” Lowe said.

“As a developing athlete, the information provided by seniors such as Eloise (Wellings), Benita (Willis) and Lisa (Weightman) was really valuable.

“Their advice will only assist me in my career; it provided insight into overcoming obstacles along the way and facing unavoidable adversities.”

Lowe attended the camp after competing in the hotly-contested 10,000m national championship race at Melbourne’s Zatopek:10 earlier this month, where she placed fourth and joined Lara Tamsett, Nikki Chapple, Cassie Fien, Weightman and event winner Wellings in recording a Commonwealth Games B-qualifying time (32:40.70).

In the men’s event Collis Birmingham notched up his second Commonwealth Games A-qualifying time over 10,000m to take the national championship ahead of Ben St Lawrence, Michael Shelley and Jeff Hunt, who each finished within Commonwealth Games B-qualifying standard.

Chapple’s performance at the Zatopek:10 concluded a busy month for the 28-year-old, following her appearance at the Chiba Ekiden Relay in November and victory in the Great Australian Run the same month.

Taking the traditional sash from Craig Mottram, who returned to road running with a 5km split time of 13:22, Chapple performed brilliantly at the Japanese-hosted event, completing her 5km leg in a time of 15:27.

Athletics Australia Distance Coordinator Tim O’Shaughnessy couldn’t be happier with such a strong showing ahead of the domestic season.

“The quality of performances in Japan and in the 10,000m at Zatopek:10, across all middle distances at that meet for that matter, truly highlights the current depth of talent in Australian running,” he said.

“The domestic season is followed up quickly by the world cross country championships and the Commonwealth Games.

“It will be a tiring 12 months but the team is strong and the training programs designed to bring our runners together are further developing this strength.”

Another such training program is planned for the New Year period at Falls Creek.

Bringing together senior athletes and promising junior representatives, the camp is focused on further developing the sense of team whilst undergoing an arduous base training program.

On the back of his two gold medals at the 2009 UTAS Australian All Schools Championships in Hobart, Jordan Williamsz is one of those juniors.

In his most recent performance, Williamsz took to the track in the 1500m at Zatopek:10, securing himself a world junior qualifying time of 3:46.06 in the process.

The camp also provides the ideal training opportunity ahead of the World Cross Country Championship trials to be held in Melbourne on Sunday January 17, 2010.

To be held at Brimbank Park, the trials could allow for the selection of up to 20 runners across the junior and senior races ahead of the world titles in the Polish city of Bydgoszcz in March, 2010.

Applications for the trials are now open with additional information and a course map available by clicking here.