10.07.2009

Rowe headlines track action on day two in Bressanone

Alex Rowe is on track for a top eight finish at the world youth championships in Bressanone, Italy, after advancing through to Saturday’s final of the 800m.

Rowe completed the two-lap event in a time of 1:50.95, placing third in the first of three heats and moving though to the deciding round as seventh fastest qualifier.

Trailing the field at the 200m mark after a blistering pace was set by the early leaders, Rowe took the outside lane around the bend to move into third position by the 300m mark.   

Taken through the first lap in 53.43, Rowe joined the pacesetters in breaking away from the field heading into the 500m mark but the surge proved brief as the runners regrouped down the back straight, Rowe hanging onto third position in the dash home.

“It wasn’t bad, I just felt I went out too hard in the first 200m and that cost me over the last lap but I felt like I gave myself every opportunity to make the final so whether or not I make it is up to the other races, I feel as though I’ve done everything I can so I have to be happy with that,” Rowe said.

“The conditions were wonderful, there was a slight breeze but you can’t ask for perfect conditions every day and to run that time, I’m very happy with that.”

Rowe’s time was less than a second outside the personal best 1:49.64 he set in Adelaide in April, the Victorian running a tightly controlled race despite a hot start from the field.

“They went through 200m in about 25.0 and that’s flying and if I’d gone out that hard I would have blown up even more so I ran pretty consistently through the fist 200m and then through the next 200m I was just continuing my pace while everyone else was slowing down so again, I gave myself every opportunity to win and I’m very happy,” Rowe said.

While Rowe moves through to Saturday’s final, Jordan Williamsz was just edged out of a berth in the deciding round.

Williamsz ran through the two laps in 1:52.19 to place eleventh overall, the Victorian disappointed to miss out on a place in the final.

“I’m shattered, I really thought I could make the final and be competitive but I’ve come this far and that’s a really good effort,” he said.

“I’m disappointed but you only get what you put in and I’ve put in a lot, it was a pretty tough competition so you can’t be too disappointed.

"I thought it would be faster which would have suited me more because I usually go out at a pretty fast pace and then hang on but I was sitting pretty good with 200m to go and then the American guy started really kicking and I couldn’t get round and I think I worried a bit, I spent my bickies a bit early.

“I was just trying to look out for the Kenyan bloke and then the two big guys about two heads taller than me came zooming past in the last 100m and I just thought ‘oh no’.”

Following his personal best run of 47.98 in yesterday’s heat, 400m representative Alex Beck was also unlucky not to progress past this afternoon’s semi-finals of the one-lap event.

Running from lane three in heat one, Beck worked his way through the field over the first 300m to assert his place in a tight race for the finish line over the final 100m.

Beck’s time of 48.17 saw him into tenth place overall, just outside qualification to the final. Granada's Kirani James will start favourite in the decider, qualifying in 46.43.

“I was pretty happy, it was strong competition out there but I did my best,” Beck said.

“I came third in the semi-final and I gave it everything, I left nothing out on the track. I thought it would be close and I just dug in deep and gave it a go and hoped to come out with a good result.

“I’ve done everything I can do and if (the final) is meant to be it’s meant to be but if not I’ll know I left nothing out there and I showed them what I’ve got and I’m really happy with my performance over the last two days.”

Beck said the meet, which gave rise to his first ever run under the 48-second barrier, would prove a huge boost to his confidence leading into the domestic season.

“It’s been a great learning curve and to come out and run well on the world stage is really good for me and a good confidence builder going into the Australian season back home, I really enjoyed the experience and I’m looking forward to a good season back home,” he said.

For a review of all the action on day two's morning session, click here.

For all results from day two, click here.