05.06.2009

Lewis on track for Berlin

Tamsyn Lewis looks certain to join two-time world champion Jana Rawlinson and reigning Olympic gold medallist Melaine Walker in the 400m hurdles at the world track and field titles in August.

Lewis, whose career has been revitalised since brother Justin took over as her coach two years ago, has qualified in both the 400m and the 400m hurdles for the world championships in Berlin. She can't contest both events and has much more experience in the one-lap flat race, having only taken up hurdling six months ago.

But buoyed by her remarkable victory at the national titles in March, Lewis is poised to tackle the hurdles in the German capital.

"At this stage, it's going to be the 400 hurdles, and I'll have to do something incredible in the 400m in the next month or so to change my coach's mind," Lewis said yesterday.

"It's a little bit daunting as I've only just learnt to hurdle. The reason why I'm choosing the hurdles at this stage is that my long-term goal is the 2012 London Olympics and the 400 hurdles.

"But the decision for Berlin is out of mind, which is good because I don't want to think about it. Because my coach is my brother, I know he will make the right decision for me - I have complete faith in him."

Lewis's first 400m hurdles in Europe in the build-up to the world titles will be in the Spanish city of Malaga on June 27, where she is likely to come up against fellow Australian Rawlinson, who is ready to return to racing after overcoming a string of injuries.

Lewis's personal best in her new event is 56.27 seconds, well behind Rawlinson's PB of 53.22 or the 52.64 that Jamaican Walker set to win gold at the Beijing Olympics.

"Obviously, I'm nowhere near the level of Melaine Walker and the top girls but I need to be in it to get the experience," said the 30-year-old Victorian, who has claimed 14 national titles over 400m and 800m and won gold in the 800m at last year's world indoor championships.

"I ran 56.2 at the nationals, with Lauren Boden pushing me in the first hurdles race I'd been in where I had real competition. If I can do that overseas against the 54- or 55-second girls and get close to them, then who knows."

Lewis and Rawlinson are also set to team up in the 4x400m relay in Berlin after Australia surprisingly qualified for the event with a quick time last month in Japan.

"We qualified without Jana, which is an awesome effort, and we qualified easily," Lewis said.

"It was like the hurdles at the nationals for me, it was one of those moments where you didn't expect it to happen but when it did it was really special."

Rawlinson, who has not raced in a year, returned to the track in Canberra last week, clocking 55.6 in an unofficial trial. After splitting from husband and coach Chris Rawlinson in April, she has been working with Australian Institute of Sport coach Craig Hilliard, whom she has appointed permanently, and said she would like him to guide her through to the London Olympics.

"He's unemotional … he's straight to the point, he's honest, he stops me from doing too much … I just really like his attitude and approach," she said.

Rawlinson is enjoying training again and is filled with ambition after missing last year's Beijing Olympics and the national championships this year. She will spend an extended stint competing in Europe before joining the full Australian team at a camp in Cologne for August's world championships.

Rawlinson has said she welcomes the challenge of renewing a rivalry with Lewis.

"It's fantastic," she said.

"I certainly think Tamsyn is going to take a step up in the next few years."

Article courtesy of John Salvado, AAP