16.11.2009

Gregson fires at state 3000m championships

Australian Flame athlete Ryan Gregson and World University Games representative Bridey Delaney have taken home state honours at the New South Wales 3000m championships at the weekend.

In a highly tactical men’s race it was world championships 1500m runner Ryan Gregson who took out the state title, holding on throughout a race where the pace fluctuated often and the lead changed numerous times in its early stages.

After a lethargic start the field passed through halfway near on 4:08-pace, national 1500m finalist Philo Saunders eventually adding some spark.

Victorian sub-four minute miler Brenton Rowe soon assumed the lead from Saunders but it was all Gregson at the bell, the national U20 3000m record-holder covering the final lap in 58.59 to claim victory in 8:00.85, three seconds outside his personal best.

"I'm really happy with the win. It's a shame it wasn't faster to show where I am at, but it was a quality field so I am glad I got the win," Gregson told Inside Athletics.

Rowe went on to place second in 8:03.28, with recent world half marathon championships representative Jeff Hunt (8:05.39) rounding out the podium in third.

Nineteen-year-old Gregson said he would have one last race over 3000m as a junior athlete.

"I'm going to do the Zatopek junior 3km," he said.

"Again, I don't expect it to be that fast because there are no pacemakers. I don't generally go to the front that much, so I think that will be more racing."

Gregson will then shift his focus to qualifying for the 1500m at next year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, in October.

"In Rieti at the end of the (European) season I ran 1:47-low but it wasn't really a good race, it was stop-start and I went out really slow. I think I've got more to prove, so I wouldn't mind having a crack at that, perhaps in Canberra."

The New South Wales runner and Athletics International’s Emerging Athlete of the Year has ruled out attempting to gain selection in both the 800m and 1500m at his Commonwealth Games debut.

"Because there are going to be so many good athletes this year for the 800m and 1500m I think it is going to be pretty much the event you want to make, you'll need to do at the trials,” he said.

"I think it’s probably too hard to try both the 800m and 1500m in three days."

Delaney’s second state 3000m title came via a hard-fought battle with New South Wales event record-holder Eloise Wellings, who courageously pushed the pace until the final straight where Delaney shifted gears to score victory in a new personal best time of 9:13.89.

"Eloise is a class runner so I expected her to be up there pushing the pace," Delaney told Inside Athletics after the race.

"As we were going along I was feeling pretty good and then on the last lap I felt like I could make a move but she kicked at 350m and at 200m. It wasn't until about 120m that I had some rhythm going and I took it from there."

Wellings crossed the line in 9:16.50 with New Zealand's Kellie Palmer third in 9:37.74.

With thanks to Inside Athletics