WRITTEN FOR SKYSPORTS
Despite an injury-ravaged build-up, teenage distance-running sensation Charlotte Purdue has had a record-breaking summer en route to her senior championship debut in the Commonwealth Games next month, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 19-year-old Aldershot athlete will tackle a 5,000m-10,000m double in New Delhi in the October 6-14th event and judging by her current form, few would be surprised if she failed to make an impact in both regardless of her tender years.
Coached by Mick Woods, Purdue has amassed an impressive twenty national medals over the past five years and has this season stormed into the British record books with a scintillating 32:36.75 under20 10,000m record on the track to seal her selection for India:
“I am really pleased with how my season has gone so far,” Purdue explained. “I feel that everything is going really well and is moving in the right direction ahead of the Commonwealth Games. I am really excited about competing there.
It will give me a great opportunity to experience a Games environment ahead of the London Olympics in 2012.”
Setback
A second-year history student at St Marys University College in London, Purdue hopes to go even quicker over twelve and a half and twenty-five laps, respectively, next month as she continues her comeback from injury over the winter:
“The stress fracture (of the knee) had healed by Christmas and I had started back running in early January for a few weeks but there was a totally different problem within the knee joint, which took a while to be diagnosed and required a minor operation which was frustrating as I could have been back running a lot earlier,” Purdue explained.
Cross-training hard on the bike in the gym and aqua-jogging in the pool sometimes twice a day, Purdue simulated the effort of her usual running workouts during her setback to keep her fitness level high and her hard graft and determination certainly worked a treat.
Eye-catching
Following her recovery, the European junior 5,000m silver-medallist took in only six races during the summer before speeding back into personal-best shape.
Purdue’s times of 9:17.20 (3,000m) and 15:23.4 (5,000m) respectively, were eye-catching – most notably the twenty-five second improvement over the latter distance to go number two on the British junior all-time lists, but it was the 10,000m lap mark set last month which clearly marked her comeback to form.
Previously a runner-up in the European junior cross-country championships and with a best of fourteenth from the global edition, Purdue was forced to miss the world junior championships this year but her recent 33:06 10km lifetime best on the roads whilst placing second in the BUPA Great Yorkshire Run, was the latest in a long line of performances that have made up for the disappointment.
Purdue credits her support team and training partners for her sparkling success of late but it is evident that the unique bond she shares with her coach, who has steered a production line of prodigiously-talented athletes to international success in the past decade, as the pinnacle factor:
“Mick and I have a great relationship and he is the key to my development as an athlete,” Purdue explained. “I like to think that the coach-athlete relationship that we are creating is special and helps add the edge to my performance, we are also very good friends.”
Impact
Sponsored by Nike and mentored by double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, Purdue will use the South of England road relay championships on her back yard, in a fortnights’ time to hone her final preparations before heading out to the Team England camp in Doha ahead of her Delhi test.
When questioned on her proudest achievement to date, the outgoing runner names finishing fifteenth in her first world cross country championships in 2007:
“It was my first international competition and I was only 15 years old,” Purdue recalled. “Finishing as the first European athlete and so high up in the race was something that I am really proud of. I feel I learnt so much from that experience that it has enabled me to want to achieve at a higher level.”
Yet on her current form, one would not be surprised if Purdue’s best memory is changed post-Commonwealth time.
“I aim to improve on my personal bests each year,” Purdue concluded. “I also aim to make the team for the London 2012 Olympics and to eventually move onto the marathon and continue to impact in international races and major competitions.”
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Degree Delay for Beesley
WRITTEN FOR ATHLETICS WEEKLY MAGAZINE
Instead of returning to Loughborough later this month to begin completion of her final-year university course, 400m hurdler Meghan Beesley will head off to the sunnier climes of Doha and Delhi, respectively, in preparation for making her senior and commonwealth debut, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 20-year-old maths with sports science student will be on the plane to Team England’s preparation camp when her fellow undergraduates start their new semester but luckily for the Birchfield Harrier, she has the support of her institution.
Coached by Nick Dakin at her East Midlands base, Beesley will be her nation’s sole representative over the one-lap barriers in India’s October 6th-14th event but rather than being daunted by the whole experience, she is relishing it:
“I’ve not thought of it as a senior or different championship – I’ve got experience from junior championships. It would be great to get to the final but I would need a PB to get there, I’ll just be happy coming away with a PB,” Beesley explained.
“I don’t know what to expect as I’ve never been to India before, I’m just looking forward to it. Hopefully I’ll see more of India on the last day before we fly home.”
Beesley - who started her athletic life as a heptathlete, winning five national medals between 2005 and 2008 – already has a taste for lifetime bests in an injury-ravaged 2010.
First, she equalled her indoor 60m hurdles best of 8.60 at the Loughborough Open in January then carved almost one second off her 400m flat mark with a 52.91 clocking in LA in April.
Following victory in the BUCS championships and a second place at the Loughborough International, Beesley took half a second off her PB in her specialist event in France at the end of June with 56.65 before securing silver in the Aviva European trials and UK Championships behind Perri Shakes-Drayton, who later went on to capture European bronze in Barcelona, before disaster struck:
“This season started off well with two PB’s but then I got injured which was quite frustrating,” Beesley revealed.
“I got the stress fracture then tore my quad in the warm up at the trials so didn’t run again for a month. The rehab was amazing, though, so I got over it quite quickly. I’m just training for strength now. It’s good that I’ve now got the Commonwealth’s to aim for.”
With nine national medals over the barriers to date and experience from the 2007 European juniors (sixth in the 400mH and second in the 4x400m relay), 2008 World juniors (third in the 400mH) and 2009 European u23 championships (fifth in the 400mH semi-final), it is little wonder that Beesley is not thrown by the upcoming opportunity:
“It’s amazing – it still doesn’t feel real!” exclaimed Beesley. “I’m just concentrating on my training – it’ll be hard work in the next fortnight, doing lots of strength and speed endurance work but then I’ll ease down and focus on the race.”
On hoping to continue the success achieved by British one lap hurdlers, Beesley continued:
“Perri’s been incredible, what with her bronze this year and Eilidh (Child) and Natasha (Danvers-Smith) have been going well so it’s a strong event which makes you raise your game which increases the standard.
2012’s obviously on my mind but so is 2016 in Rio – I’ll be 26 then, they’re my big goals.”
Instead of returning to Loughborough later this month to begin completion of her final-year university course, 400m hurdler Meghan Beesley will head off to the sunnier climes of Doha and Delhi, respectively, in preparation for making her senior and commonwealth debut, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 20-year-old maths with sports science student will be on the plane to Team England’s preparation camp when her fellow undergraduates start their new semester but luckily for the Birchfield Harrier, she has the support of her institution.
Coached by Nick Dakin at her East Midlands base, Beesley will be her nation’s sole representative over the one-lap barriers in India’s October 6th-14th event but rather than being daunted by the whole experience, she is relishing it:
“I’ve not thought of it as a senior or different championship – I’ve got experience from junior championships. It would be great to get to the final but I would need a PB to get there, I’ll just be happy coming away with a PB,” Beesley explained.
“I don’t know what to expect as I’ve never been to India before, I’m just looking forward to it. Hopefully I’ll see more of India on the last day before we fly home.”
Beesley - who started her athletic life as a heptathlete, winning five national medals between 2005 and 2008 – already has a taste for lifetime bests in an injury-ravaged 2010.
First, she equalled her indoor 60m hurdles best of 8.60 at the Loughborough Open in January then carved almost one second off her 400m flat mark with a 52.91 clocking in LA in April.
Following victory in the BUCS championships and a second place at the Loughborough International, Beesley took half a second off her PB in her specialist event in France at the end of June with 56.65 before securing silver in the Aviva European trials and UK Championships behind Perri Shakes-Drayton, who later went on to capture European bronze in Barcelona, before disaster struck:
“This season started off well with two PB’s but then I got injured which was quite frustrating,” Beesley revealed.
“I got the stress fracture then tore my quad in the warm up at the trials so didn’t run again for a month. The rehab was amazing, though, so I got over it quite quickly. I’m just training for strength now. It’s good that I’ve now got the Commonwealth’s to aim for.”
With nine national medals over the barriers to date and experience from the 2007 European juniors (sixth in the 400mH and second in the 4x400m relay), 2008 World juniors (third in the 400mH) and 2009 European u23 championships (fifth in the 400mH semi-final), it is little wonder that Beesley is not thrown by the upcoming opportunity:
“It’s amazing – it still doesn’t feel real!” exclaimed Beesley. “I’m just concentrating on my training – it’ll be hard work in the next fortnight, doing lots of strength and speed endurance work but then I’ll ease down and focus on the race.”
On hoping to continue the success achieved by British one lap hurdlers, Beesley continued:
“Perri’s been incredible, what with her bronze this year and Eilidh (Child) and Natasha (Danvers-Smith) have been going well so it’s a strong event which makes you raise your game which increases the standard.
2012’s obviously on my mind but so is 2016 in Rio – I’ll be 26 then, they’re my big goals.”
Monday, 6 September 2010
Pressure's off for Yelling-Higham
WRITTEN FOR ATHLETICS WEEKLY MAGAZINE
After years of dealing with targets and pressure, European cross-country champion Hayley Yelling-Higham is taking a more relaxed approach to her running and hopes this new-found attitude will help her reap the rewards when she makes her third Commonwealth Games appearance in Delhi next month, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 36-year-old Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow runner spontaneously returned from competitive retirement last winter after a year out to claim her second continental title over the mud in Dublin, and at the time, accredited her shock victory to apparently being so laid-back that she is almost horizontal.
With a cool and calmness that would give the comedic sprint superstar Usain Bolt a run for his money, Yelling-Higham is “only running around 80-miles per week” at the moment and is seemingly managing to juggle this ‘light’ training load with that of being a secondary school maths teacher; a job she returned to last week, with consummate ease.
Coached by Conrad Milton, Yelling-Higham has just celebrated her one-year wedding anniversary with husband Jamie and is relishing an attempt to better her best of fifth place in the event over twenty-five laps in India on October...?
The sister-in-law of Olympic marathoner Liz, Yelling-Higham’s selection for Team England was no surprise after her 32:49.07 qualification run whilst representing Great Britain in the European Cup back in June, however, she freely admits that her current race fitness is in doubt in the countdown to the championships:
“I had a break after the last race (winning the Bushy Park 5km in London on July 17 in 16:49),” Yelling-Higham explained.
“We’ve just said to do what suits so I do a track, grass and tempo session once a week. I really hate the track sessions, though – they’re so hard, I just love the grass and road. Tim Haughian (a 23-year-old 3:56 1500m runner and brother of former GB runner Sam, who unfortunately lost his life in 2003 aged just 24) does the sessions with me and another guy who lives nearby runs with me, too so I’m never alone.”
Revealing why she has not toed the start-line for eight-weeks, the Marlow-based athlete continued: “I wanted to take it easy after I made the Commonwealth time so not to over-train and race, that didn’t work for me in the past and my legs were so tired after the 10,000m – I must be getting old!”
I decided to target only one race for the distance and luckily, I got picked so I’ve been able to concentrate on training. I wanted more to life than running – not racing every weekend and I want to do well when I do race. Track was a real shock to the system but I was pleased to get under 33-minutes – I didn’t know what to expect after the cross-country season.”
Yelling-Higham, who has a 10,000m track personal best of 31:45.14 dating back to 2004, will find herself in unusual company out in New Delhi, as her team-mate will be seventeen-years her junior in the shape of European junior 5,000m silver-medallist Charlotte Purdue, who will be making her senior championship debut.
“I definitely don’t feel pressured to beat her at all,” Yelling-Higham insisted. “She’s very talented and has done incredibly well to get back to such form after her terrible injury. I’m pleased to be alongside her in the team.”
For someone who wasn’t even sure whether she would tackle the track ever again, Yelling-Higham has done well to be named in the Commonwealth squad and naturally, rather than let the nerves and pressure creep in, she is quite literally taking it all in her stride:
“I’m pleased to be selected but I’m not sure what state I’ll be in so I’m going into it with a relaxed approach,” Yelling-Higham revealed.
“I’ve never been to India before so that will be an experience in itself. They gave security threats out before the World cross in Kenya but that was well-organised and I loved it so I’m not worrying, I’m sure it will be fine.
The temperature’s actually not looking too bad, I think the average will be between around 24 and 32-degrees and the race is in the evening so I’m not really thinking about it. I’ve got no targets or times but it would be nice to better my best placing of fifth at the Commonwealth’s - that would be a bonus. I’m putting no pressure on myself – I just want to run and see how I do.”
After years of dealing with targets and pressure, European cross-country champion Hayley Yelling-Higham is taking a more relaxed approach to her running and hopes this new-found attitude will help her reap the rewards when she makes her third Commonwealth Games appearance in Delhi next month, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 36-year-old Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow runner spontaneously returned from competitive retirement last winter after a year out to claim her second continental title over the mud in Dublin, and at the time, accredited her shock victory to apparently being so laid-back that she is almost horizontal.
With a cool and calmness that would give the comedic sprint superstar Usain Bolt a run for his money, Yelling-Higham is “only running around 80-miles per week” at the moment and is seemingly managing to juggle this ‘light’ training load with that of being a secondary school maths teacher; a job she returned to last week, with consummate ease.
Coached by Conrad Milton, Yelling-Higham has just celebrated her one-year wedding anniversary with husband Jamie and is relishing an attempt to better her best of fifth place in the event over twenty-five laps in India on October...?
The sister-in-law of Olympic marathoner Liz, Yelling-Higham’s selection for Team England was no surprise after her 32:49.07 qualification run whilst representing Great Britain in the European Cup back in June, however, she freely admits that her current race fitness is in doubt in the countdown to the championships:
“I had a break after the last race (winning the Bushy Park 5km in London on July 17 in 16:49),” Yelling-Higham explained.
“We’ve just said to do what suits so I do a track, grass and tempo session once a week. I really hate the track sessions, though – they’re so hard, I just love the grass and road. Tim Haughian (a 23-year-old 3:56 1500m runner and brother of former GB runner Sam, who unfortunately lost his life in 2003 aged just 24) does the sessions with me and another guy who lives nearby runs with me, too so I’m never alone.”
Revealing why she has not toed the start-line for eight-weeks, the Marlow-based athlete continued: “I wanted to take it easy after I made the Commonwealth time so not to over-train and race, that didn’t work for me in the past and my legs were so tired after the 10,000m – I must be getting old!”
I decided to target only one race for the distance and luckily, I got picked so I’ve been able to concentrate on training. I wanted more to life than running – not racing every weekend and I want to do well when I do race. Track was a real shock to the system but I was pleased to get under 33-minutes – I didn’t know what to expect after the cross-country season.”
Yelling-Higham, who has a 10,000m track personal best of 31:45.14 dating back to 2004, will find herself in unusual company out in New Delhi, as her team-mate will be seventeen-years her junior in the shape of European junior 5,000m silver-medallist Charlotte Purdue, who will be making her senior championship debut.
“I definitely don’t feel pressured to beat her at all,” Yelling-Higham insisted. “She’s very talented and has done incredibly well to get back to such form after her terrible injury. I’m pleased to be alongside her in the team.”
For someone who wasn’t even sure whether she would tackle the track ever again, Yelling-Higham has done well to be named in the Commonwealth squad and naturally, rather than let the nerves and pressure creep in, she is quite literally taking it all in her stride:
“I’m pleased to be selected but I’m not sure what state I’ll be in so I’m going into it with a relaxed approach,” Yelling-Higham revealed.
“I’ve never been to India before so that will be an experience in itself. They gave security threats out before the World cross in Kenya but that was well-organised and I loved it so I’m not worrying, I’m sure it will be fine.
The temperature’s actually not looking too bad, I think the average will be between around 24 and 32-degrees and the race is in the evening so I’m not really thinking about it. I’ve got no targets or times but it would be nice to better my best placing of fifth at the Commonwealth’s - that would be a bonus. I’m putting no pressure on myself – I just want to run and see how I do.”
Revenge for Mottram and Murray
WRITTEN FOR ATHLETICS WEEKLY MAGAZINE
Action: BUPA Great Yorkshire Run, Sheffield, September 5th.
Words: Nicola Bamford
Duly following the form book, a mixed international field gave the steel city an exciting Sunday morning wake-up call.
In a race ideal for getting one over your close rival, Australian Craig Mottram and Scotland’s Freya Murray did just that, capitalising on their current fine form and knowledge of the hilly city-centre course.
With the Nova International train storming through another city in its’ usual outstanding fashion, the organisers continued their 2010 season as well as the athletes themselves and subsequently raised the participant level to double of that in the inaugural 2007 event.
MEN
It was the wizard from Oz who created a glimpse of the magic that propelled him to World 5,000m bronze five years ago in winning this men’s 10,000m road event.
Craig Mottram’s eye-opening finishing speed saw him confidently clinch a 28:50 victory over Britain’s Chris Thompson, who arrived at the hotel around midnight after travelling up from a friend’s wedding in Hampshire, a mere second adrift.
The duo shared the lead on various occasions – clocking consistent kilometre splits of around 2:50, reaching the half-way point in 14:09 and pulling clear after 8km from Finland’s Jussi Utrianen (29:02) and the second Brit Andrew Lemoncello (29:08) in third and fourth, respectively.
Flying into Yorkshire five days beforehand, ‘Buster,’ as Mottram is affectionately known by fans and the press, scouted out the course in the countdown to the race in which he gained revenge over the man who convincingly beat him over 3,000m at the IAAF Diamond League in Crystal Palace last month.
Now recovered from a long-term Achilles injury and having turned down several lucrative offers to continue his comeback in events over the Pond, the 28-year-old confirmed his fitness in scintillating fashion and was happy with his mornings work:
“I was happy that we went out strong. Chris did a good job and at 3km I settled in nicely and when we turned into the wind at 5km, Chris had had enough at the front so a few of us tested the pace and I surged with 2km go to go, as did Chris again to break it up.
I pushed hard on the hills and ran aggressively and I felt alright. I’ve had a pretty relaxed year with getting back into racing so I’m probably a lot fresher than the other guys but it’s good for me to win a race in Europe. I’ve got the Great City-Games two-mile in Newcastle (Sept 18) coming up, which will be another fun test.”
Still on cloud nine from his recent European 10,000m silver medal and seemingly a new more confident athlete, Thompson was gracious in defeat as the 29-year-old Oregon-based runner remained in positive mood following his third-successive (and highest) appearance in this event following an equally-frustrating battle with injury in recent years:
“I took it out from the gun which I didn’t expect but it was a good honest pace. The wind on the way back made it a cat and mouse race but I fancied my chances in the last kilometre so I put an effort in with 2km to go and I did a bit of damage. Mottram went with 400m to go and although I finished fast, he was stronger.
I’m trying to muster up a second wind for the Commonwealth’s (in New Delhi next month) so I’ve been training through races recently. I’m starting to wobble a bit but the time’s worth maybe twenty-seconds quicker on a flatter course in better conditions so I’m chuffed. I need to find another gear if I want a medal in the Commonwealths but I’ve not fallen apart yet.”
Further down the field in sixth place was 39-year-old Stefano Baldini in a highly respectable 29:33. The 2004 Olympic marathon champion was presented with a special gift after what transpired to be his final ever race on UK shores as he approaches competitive retirement at the end of this month.
The politely-spoken Italian explained: “The race was ok, 14:09 was my season’s best for the distance (at half-way) and coming back in the second half was really hard, particularly the last 400m. It was a nice race and my first time in the city of Sheffield. Thank-you very much to the organisers for inviting me – It’s been a great pleasure to come to the UK.
I decided to continue in 2010 because of the European Championships (in Barcelona last month) but after the bad experience in the marathon, I decided to retire indefinitely. Now I will work for the Italian federation in youth projects and in the future I hope to have also a job with the marathon team. I have been an international athlete since I was a junior – I competed in the 1989 European junior championships. I will miss racing because I enjoy competing but I will continue to run two to four times per week for my fitness.”
WOMEN
The biggest smile of the day was reserved for Chester-le-Street’s Freya Murray, who not only retained her title in this event but more importantly, gained the upper-hand over her much younger but still imperiously-talented rival, Charlotte Purdue.
The 27-year-old Edinburgh-born runner convincingly turned the tables from Cardiff last weekend, where the 19-year-old Purdue sped to a superb 15:23.4 5,000m clocking on the track over Murray’s 15:26.5 in the BMC Grand Prix Final.
Here, benefitting from racing with the elite and regional-level men, Murray registered 33:01 – after a 16:25 5km clocking - ahead of Purdue’s 33:06 to add to her impressive collection of BUPA Great Run victories of late. Charnwood’s Gemma Steel was third in 33:57.
A delighted Murray said afterwards: “I was really pleased. It was a real tussle and when it got to the last kilometre, we picked it up and again at 800m so it came down to a real sprint finish. This race is special to me after last years’ race so I really enjoyed the experience and the organisers look after us well.
The Commonwealth’s are the big focus – I was away in Boulder, Colorado in May (at high altitude) so that meant that I started my season later than usual which has helped me. I’m feeling really fresh, am pleased with the win and I’m looking forward to Delhi. It’s great that Charlotte’s back after a bad injury so it’s good to see her back racing and it’s good that it’s one race each now so Delhi will be the decider!”
Purdue, last year’s European junior 5,000m runner-up, will be making her senior major championship debut in New Delhi in a 5,000m-10,000m double, following her outstanding 32:36.75 run in Tipton last month.
Following an operation to recover from a stress-fracture in the knee last spring, the Aldershot runner is evidently proving what she is made of, showing the kind of determination which will stand her in good stead for her upcoming goal for the year.
Purdue revealed: “It was ok, I prefer to win obviously and we were together until the last 300m so it was a tough uphill sprint finish. I felt really easy, which is a big boost ahead of the Commonwealth’s to feel that comfortable and it’s a road personal best.
We’ll be racing each over in both distances in Delhi and we push each other on. I feel really fresh after only starting my season in June so I’ve got a lot of training left until a having a break after the Commonwealth’s, which I’m really looking forward to. I want to get a PB in both. It will be a really good experience for the future especially with the 2012 Olympics – it’s good that I’ve been selected at such a young age.”
Action: BUPA Great Yorkshire Run, Sheffield, September 5th.
Words: Nicola Bamford
Duly following the form book, a mixed international field gave the steel city an exciting Sunday morning wake-up call.
In a race ideal for getting one over your close rival, Australian Craig Mottram and Scotland’s Freya Murray did just that, capitalising on their current fine form and knowledge of the hilly city-centre course.
With the Nova International train storming through another city in its’ usual outstanding fashion, the organisers continued their 2010 season as well as the athletes themselves and subsequently raised the participant level to double of that in the inaugural 2007 event.
MEN
It was the wizard from Oz who created a glimpse of the magic that propelled him to World 5,000m bronze five years ago in winning this men’s 10,000m road event.
Craig Mottram’s eye-opening finishing speed saw him confidently clinch a 28:50 victory over Britain’s Chris Thompson, who arrived at the hotel around midnight after travelling up from a friend’s wedding in Hampshire, a mere second adrift.
The duo shared the lead on various occasions – clocking consistent kilometre splits of around 2:50, reaching the half-way point in 14:09 and pulling clear after 8km from Finland’s Jussi Utrianen (29:02) and the second Brit Andrew Lemoncello (29:08) in third and fourth, respectively.
Flying into Yorkshire five days beforehand, ‘Buster,’ as Mottram is affectionately known by fans and the press, scouted out the course in the countdown to the race in which he gained revenge over the man who convincingly beat him over 3,000m at the IAAF Diamond League in Crystal Palace last month.
Now recovered from a long-term Achilles injury and having turned down several lucrative offers to continue his comeback in events over the Pond, the 28-year-old confirmed his fitness in scintillating fashion and was happy with his mornings work:
“I was happy that we went out strong. Chris did a good job and at 3km I settled in nicely and when we turned into the wind at 5km, Chris had had enough at the front so a few of us tested the pace and I surged with 2km go to go, as did Chris again to break it up.
I pushed hard on the hills and ran aggressively and I felt alright. I’ve had a pretty relaxed year with getting back into racing so I’m probably a lot fresher than the other guys but it’s good for me to win a race in Europe. I’ve got the Great City-Games two-mile in Newcastle (Sept 18) coming up, which will be another fun test.”
Still on cloud nine from his recent European 10,000m silver medal and seemingly a new more confident athlete, Thompson was gracious in defeat as the 29-year-old Oregon-based runner remained in positive mood following his third-successive (and highest) appearance in this event following an equally-frustrating battle with injury in recent years:
“I took it out from the gun which I didn’t expect but it was a good honest pace. The wind on the way back made it a cat and mouse race but I fancied my chances in the last kilometre so I put an effort in with 2km to go and I did a bit of damage. Mottram went with 400m to go and although I finished fast, he was stronger.
I’m trying to muster up a second wind for the Commonwealth’s (in New Delhi next month) so I’ve been training through races recently. I’m starting to wobble a bit but the time’s worth maybe twenty-seconds quicker on a flatter course in better conditions so I’m chuffed. I need to find another gear if I want a medal in the Commonwealths but I’ve not fallen apart yet.”
Further down the field in sixth place was 39-year-old Stefano Baldini in a highly respectable 29:33. The 2004 Olympic marathon champion was presented with a special gift after what transpired to be his final ever race on UK shores as he approaches competitive retirement at the end of this month.
The politely-spoken Italian explained: “The race was ok, 14:09 was my season’s best for the distance (at half-way) and coming back in the second half was really hard, particularly the last 400m. It was a nice race and my first time in the city of Sheffield. Thank-you very much to the organisers for inviting me – It’s been a great pleasure to come to the UK.
I decided to continue in 2010 because of the European Championships (in Barcelona last month) but after the bad experience in the marathon, I decided to retire indefinitely. Now I will work for the Italian federation in youth projects and in the future I hope to have also a job with the marathon team. I have been an international athlete since I was a junior – I competed in the 1989 European junior championships. I will miss racing because I enjoy competing but I will continue to run two to four times per week for my fitness.”
WOMEN
The biggest smile of the day was reserved for Chester-le-Street’s Freya Murray, who not only retained her title in this event but more importantly, gained the upper-hand over her much younger but still imperiously-talented rival, Charlotte Purdue.
The 27-year-old Edinburgh-born runner convincingly turned the tables from Cardiff last weekend, where the 19-year-old Purdue sped to a superb 15:23.4 5,000m clocking on the track over Murray’s 15:26.5 in the BMC Grand Prix Final.
Here, benefitting from racing with the elite and regional-level men, Murray registered 33:01 – after a 16:25 5km clocking - ahead of Purdue’s 33:06 to add to her impressive collection of BUPA Great Run victories of late. Charnwood’s Gemma Steel was third in 33:57.
A delighted Murray said afterwards: “I was really pleased. It was a real tussle and when it got to the last kilometre, we picked it up and again at 800m so it came down to a real sprint finish. This race is special to me after last years’ race so I really enjoyed the experience and the organisers look after us well.
The Commonwealth’s are the big focus – I was away in Boulder, Colorado in May (at high altitude) so that meant that I started my season later than usual which has helped me. I’m feeling really fresh, am pleased with the win and I’m looking forward to Delhi. It’s great that Charlotte’s back after a bad injury so it’s good to see her back racing and it’s good that it’s one race each now so Delhi will be the decider!”
Purdue, last year’s European junior 5,000m runner-up, will be making her senior major championship debut in New Delhi in a 5,000m-10,000m double, following her outstanding 32:36.75 run in Tipton last month.
Following an operation to recover from a stress-fracture in the knee last spring, the Aldershot runner is evidently proving what she is made of, showing the kind of determination which will stand her in good stead for her upcoming goal for the year.
Purdue revealed: “It was ok, I prefer to win obviously and we were together until the last 300m so it was a tough uphill sprint finish. I felt really easy, which is a big boost ahead of the Commonwealth’s to feel that comfortable and it’s a road personal best.
We’ll be racing each over in both distances in Delhi and we push each other on. I feel really fresh after only starting my season in June so I’ve got a lot of training left until a having a break after the Commonwealth’s, which I’m really looking forward to. I want to get a PB in both. It will be a really good experience for the future especially with the 2012 Olympics – it’s good that I’ve been selected at such a young age.”
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Bing of the Bang
WRITTEN FOR SKYSPORTS
Twenty-eight months have passed since he transferred to compete for Great Britain and a fortnight ago, 400m runner Michael Bingham finally captured his first individual medal for his adopted nation, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 24-year-old North Carolina-born sprinter’s decision to switch allegiance from the United States in the spring of 2008 paid off last month when he sped to one-lap silver in the European championships ahead of combining with his new team-mates to scorch to second in the 4x400m relay in Barcelona.
Reversing the finishing order in which he placed runner-up behind his Team GB rival and friend Martyn Rooney in the European trials, Bingham’s 45.23 clocking in the Spanish city signalled his arrival as an international medallist and came just two-years out from the London 2012 Olympics; an event where the new Brit will seek a career-defining medal on home turf.
Bingham, who was fourth behind Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner of the USA in the Crystal Palace leg of the IAAF Diamond League last weekend in 45.49, said of his performance:
“This year has been a growing experience. I switched coaches, I moved training bases, and I felt the pressure to follow up last year’s success with another strong year. Up until the European Championships, I found it hard to find my rhythm but I think I’m on the right track.”
As his training partner in the US, Kevin Borlee sped to victory in the continental final; Bingham led the British one-two but is disappointed he missed out on the gold;
"I panicked," Bingham reflected, "I think I had the race won, but I knew the others were coming and I panicked. If you panic in the 400m, you lose all technique. Luckily, worst-case scenario, I got a silver. But it definitely should have been a different colour."
Support
Bingham; whose father is from Nottingham, recognised after graduating from Wake Forest University that life as a professional athlete would be tough in the notoriously hard US sprint squad so he instead took a chance on the British system – and luckily for him, he has been welcomed with open arms after a bumpy start.
“I switched to the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team because I felt compelled to run for the country of my father, and now, the country of mine as well,” Bingham explained.
“I genuinely and wholeheartedly wanted to run for the Great Britain and my dreams came true and thankfully I’m running decently. The entire team supports me and they have completely accepted me. I’m happy that the media has now accepted me as well. I think people were a little skeptical at first, but eventually they accepted me and supported me. I enjoyed hearing the cheers while I lined up for each race in Barcelona.”
Progress
After gaining a degree in political science and economics, Bingham joined the roster of the Universal Sports Performance Management group, run by 400m record-holder Michael Johnson and, under the tutelage of Ken Harnden: the former Zimbabwean international 400m hurdler who won bronze at the 1998 Commonwealth Games - Bingham has rapidly progressed in his first year as a pro athlete.
The 2005 US junior decathlon champion, Bingham placed third in the 2008 Olympic trials just a few days after receiving his visa by FedEx in the US and thrust himself into his new team when helping them to finish fourth in the Beijing Olympics. 2009 saw another upward curve for Bingham, as he improved to seventh in the World championship final in lifetime best of 44.74 – his first clocking under the magical 45-second barrier.
“I’m not motivated in the way most athlete’s are,” Bingham explained. “Most get angry and pumped up before training and major races trying to force their goals. My only goal is to progress each year, in most aspects of my life.
I don’t want to train harder, just smarter. I don’t want to lift harder, just cleaner. I don’t want to merely run fast, I want to run easy and do it right. I just can’t run angry, I’ve tried. I’ve never been one to hate my competitors, but that doesn’t mean I don’t take it seriously.”
Optimistic
From May to October, Bingham is based at the UK Athletics High Performance Centre in Loughborough where he trains alongside Rooney. The other half of the year, he spends at the Florida State University track in Tallahassee with Harnden.
His training group in the States includes Borlee and the Belgian runner's identical twin brother, Jonathan, who lined up the clear favourite for the European Championship final but ended up seventh.
“Basically, I have seven hard sessions in two weeks,” Bingham revealed, “On the other days my coach conjures up all sorts of tormenting activities and calls them active rest.
In a typical day, you’ll find me on the sofa, with my face halfway inside a big bag of Thai Sweet Chilli Crisps. Jokes aside, I always forget things so I sometimes rely on my coach, manager and anyone else that takes it upon themselves to drag me to where I need to be. Ken actually started fining me for being late to training. A $1 a minute fine - needless to say, I filled his sweets fund two or three times over!”
The outgoing athlete, who states music and golden syrup as his addiction, competes in the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday before representing Europe in the Continental Cup in Split next month and gave his thoughts on the 400m in Britain:
“The 400m has lulled since Mark Richardson, Roger Black and Iwan Thomas left, but in the past two years we have seen a steady return of the event.
I am very optimistic that we all should be ready by 2011 and experienced to take on the world in 2012. Martyn, Conrad (Williams), Steely (Andrew Steele) and myself all look forward to running quick and making the final. The real tests are championships and the more finals you make, the more you learn, and the better your chances are to medal.”
Twenty-eight months have passed since he transferred to compete for Great Britain and a fortnight ago, 400m runner Michael Bingham finally captured his first individual medal for his adopted nation, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 24-year-old North Carolina-born sprinter’s decision to switch allegiance from the United States in the spring of 2008 paid off last month when he sped to one-lap silver in the European championships ahead of combining with his new team-mates to scorch to second in the 4x400m relay in Barcelona.
Reversing the finishing order in which he placed runner-up behind his Team GB rival and friend Martyn Rooney in the European trials, Bingham’s 45.23 clocking in the Spanish city signalled his arrival as an international medallist and came just two-years out from the London 2012 Olympics; an event where the new Brit will seek a career-defining medal on home turf.
Bingham, who was fourth behind Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner of the USA in the Crystal Palace leg of the IAAF Diamond League last weekend in 45.49, said of his performance:
“This year has been a growing experience. I switched coaches, I moved training bases, and I felt the pressure to follow up last year’s success with another strong year. Up until the European Championships, I found it hard to find my rhythm but I think I’m on the right track.”
As his training partner in the US, Kevin Borlee sped to victory in the continental final; Bingham led the British one-two but is disappointed he missed out on the gold;
"I panicked," Bingham reflected, "I think I had the race won, but I knew the others were coming and I panicked. If you panic in the 400m, you lose all technique. Luckily, worst-case scenario, I got a silver. But it definitely should have been a different colour."
Support
Bingham; whose father is from Nottingham, recognised after graduating from Wake Forest University that life as a professional athlete would be tough in the notoriously hard US sprint squad so he instead took a chance on the British system – and luckily for him, he has been welcomed with open arms after a bumpy start.
“I switched to the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team because I felt compelled to run for the country of my father, and now, the country of mine as well,” Bingham explained.
“I genuinely and wholeheartedly wanted to run for the Great Britain and my dreams came true and thankfully I’m running decently. The entire team supports me and they have completely accepted me. I’m happy that the media has now accepted me as well. I think people were a little skeptical at first, but eventually they accepted me and supported me. I enjoyed hearing the cheers while I lined up for each race in Barcelona.”
Progress
After gaining a degree in political science and economics, Bingham joined the roster of the Universal Sports Performance Management group, run by 400m record-holder Michael Johnson and, under the tutelage of Ken Harnden: the former Zimbabwean international 400m hurdler who won bronze at the 1998 Commonwealth Games - Bingham has rapidly progressed in his first year as a pro athlete.
The 2005 US junior decathlon champion, Bingham placed third in the 2008 Olympic trials just a few days after receiving his visa by FedEx in the US and thrust himself into his new team when helping them to finish fourth in the Beijing Olympics. 2009 saw another upward curve for Bingham, as he improved to seventh in the World championship final in lifetime best of 44.74 – his first clocking under the magical 45-second barrier.
“I’m not motivated in the way most athlete’s are,” Bingham explained. “Most get angry and pumped up before training and major races trying to force their goals. My only goal is to progress each year, in most aspects of my life.
I don’t want to train harder, just smarter. I don’t want to lift harder, just cleaner. I don’t want to merely run fast, I want to run easy and do it right. I just can’t run angry, I’ve tried. I’ve never been one to hate my competitors, but that doesn’t mean I don’t take it seriously.”
Optimistic
From May to October, Bingham is based at the UK Athletics High Performance Centre in Loughborough where he trains alongside Rooney. The other half of the year, he spends at the Florida State University track in Tallahassee with Harnden.
His training group in the States includes Borlee and the Belgian runner's identical twin brother, Jonathan, who lined up the clear favourite for the European Championship final but ended up seventh.
“Basically, I have seven hard sessions in two weeks,” Bingham revealed, “On the other days my coach conjures up all sorts of tormenting activities and calls them active rest.
In a typical day, you’ll find me on the sofa, with my face halfway inside a big bag of Thai Sweet Chilli Crisps. Jokes aside, I always forget things so I sometimes rely on my coach, manager and anyone else that takes it upon themselves to drag me to where I need to be. Ken actually started fining me for being late to training. A $1 a minute fine - needless to say, I filled his sweets fund two or three times over!”
The outgoing athlete, who states music and golden syrup as his addiction, competes in the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday before representing Europe in the Continental Cup in Split next month and gave his thoughts on the 400m in Britain:
“The 400m has lulled since Mark Richardson, Roger Black and Iwan Thomas left, but in the past two years we have seen a steady return of the event.
I am very optimistic that we all should be ready by 2011 and experienced to take on the world in 2012. Martyn, Conrad (Williams), Steely (Andrew Steele) and myself all look forward to running quick and making the final. The real tests are championships and the more finals you make, the more you learn, and the better your chances are to medal.”
Friday, 13 August 2010
Hatt's Off
WRITTEN FOR SKYSPORTS
Her performance was one of Team GB’s biggest surprises at the European Championships but 3,000m steeplechaser Hatti Dean was more shocked than anyone after her fourth place-finish and huge personal best in the Barcelona final recently, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 28-year-old Sheffield-based runner ran the race of her life to scorch to an impressive 9:30.19 in the Spanish city; taking more than eight seconds off her lifetime best performance and missing the British record by only one second in the process.
While a top-eight finish was a strong possibility, few expected the Bud Baldaro-coached athlete to get so close to the medals, especially as her 2010 season came two-years after her last attempts over the barriers before conceding to injury.
A glittering example of how to bounce back from adversity, Dean did not even win the British trial prior to Barcelona but rose to the occasion when it mattered most in scintillating style.
In last position on the first lap, Dean gradually moved up the field to settle into sixth place with four laps to go before finding an extra gear on the final circuit. Still clearly overwhelmed with excitement after failing to get a medal by only 0.37 seconds, the Oxford-born runner exclaimed:
“I still can’t believe it. The time was a real confidence boost and it was great to raise my game and not be fazed by a major competition. I have never raced in front of that size of crowd before.
I’m really happy; a bit surprised and very satisfied. A bit annoyed that I just missed out but not disappointed in myself at all. It's made me want more though, and I want to run even better now. Barcelona as a trip was a great experience, the whole team did so well and there was a very positive atmosphere which motivated me even more to run well. I really enjoy going to the stadium and watching live athletics as well so I had a brilliant time after my race.”
Tragedy
Her genuine surprise is of little wonder, too, for the Hallamshire Harrier missed the 2008 Beijing Olympics through injury and the Berlin World Championships last summer; the results of a couple of rollercoaster years for the Sheffield Hallam MA graduate.
After taking her first national title on the track in 2006 ahead of finishing eighth in the continental championships in the same year, Dean exited the heats of the World championships in Osaka - after breaking the national steeplechase record three times in the build-up and missing the final by less than one second – before placing eighth in the European cross-country championships during the following two years.
For Dean, who played lacrosse for England in her youth, the lowest point came in the summer of 2008 when tragedy struck - a stress fracture forced her to withdraw from the Olympic squad; shattering her Olympic dream in the process.
But now, Dean, who works flexible hours as a statistician for the civil service, is on cloud nine at last and may be able to train full-time from the autumn, should UK Athletics decide to fund her on the back of her recent international breakthrough.
“I’m really, really pleased with my performance at the championship and I was fairly tired when I first got back but I’m excited to race again. My season has been up and down - I got injured in late May and had to have two-three weeks off running, but after I started running again, training has gone really well,” Dean explained as she recalled her turbulent summer.
“I did have to go into the trials having done only a few running sessions and no hurdle work but I surprised myself there and have been surprised by each race since then.”
Commitment
Further testament to Dean’s success after injury is her commitment to travelling from Sheffield to Birmingham twice each week to train with Budaro’s top-class group – in addition to frequently training alone in the Yorkshire hills.
Her next appearance on the track will be on home turf in the ‘homecoming’ for Team GB at the London IAAF Diamond League meeting in Crystal Palace this Saturday, following outings in Brussels and Croatia; the latter where Dean will have the honour of representing Europe in the Inter-Continental Cup.
Evidently thrilled with her form and hungry to tackle the international stage as often as possible, Dean quotes her latest ‘Hatt’s off’ run as her biggest achievement so far:
“The Europeans steeplechase final is definitely up there and just in general this whole season as I've come back from a slight injury and raced really well despite possibly not the best preparation, and I'm pleased that I've cross-trained really hard and kept my fitness.”
Kept her fitness she has and in the countdown to 2012, Team GB may well have found a diamond in the rough; eager to hone her sparkle with a little more experience and step up into medal class where she clearly has the potential to belong.
Her performance was one of Team GB’s biggest surprises at the European Championships but 3,000m steeplechaser Hatti Dean was more shocked than anyone after her fourth place-finish and huge personal best in the Barcelona final recently, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 28-year-old Sheffield-based runner ran the race of her life to scorch to an impressive 9:30.19 in the Spanish city; taking more than eight seconds off her lifetime best performance and missing the British record by only one second in the process.
While a top-eight finish was a strong possibility, few expected the Bud Baldaro-coached athlete to get so close to the medals, especially as her 2010 season came two-years after her last attempts over the barriers before conceding to injury.
A glittering example of how to bounce back from adversity, Dean did not even win the British trial prior to Barcelona but rose to the occasion when it mattered most in scintillating style.
In last position on the first lap, Dean gradually moved up the field to settle into sixth place with four laps to go before finding an extra gear on the final circuit. Still clearly overwhelmed with excitement after failing to get a medal by only 0.37 seconds, the Oxford-born runner exclaimed:
“I still can’t believe it. The time was a real confidence boost and it was great to raise my game and not be fazed by a major competition. I have never raced in front of that size of crowd before.
I’m really happy; a bit surprised and very satisfied. A bit annoyed that I just missed out but not disappointed in myself at all. It's made me want more though, and I want to run even better now. Barcelona as a trip was a great experience, the whole team did so well and there was a very positive atmosphere which motivated me even more to run well. I really enjoy going to the stadium and watching live athletics as well so I had a brilliant time after my race.”
Tragedy
Her genuine surprise is of little wonder, too, for the Hallamshire Harrier missed the 2008 Beijing Olympics through injury and the Berlin World Championships last summer; the results of a couple of rollercoaster years for the Sheffield Hallam MA graduate.
After taking her first national title on the track in 2006 ahead of finishing eighth in the continental championships in the same year, Dean exited the heats of the World championships in Osaka - after breaking the national steeplechase record three times in the build-up and missing the final by less than one second – before placing eighth in the European cross-country championships during the following two years.
For Dean, who played lacrosse for England in her youth, the lowest point came in the summer of 2008 when tragedy struck - a stress fracture forced her to withdraw from the Olympic squad; shattering her Olympic dream in the process.
But now, Dean, who works flexible hours as a statistician for the civil service, is on cloud nine at last and may be able to train full-time from the autumn, should UK Athletics decide to fund her on the back of her recent international breakthrough.
“I’m really, really pleased with my performance at the championship and I was fairly tired when I first got back but I’m excited to race again. My season has been up and down - I got injured in late May and had to have two-three weeks off running, but after I started running again, training has gone really well,” Dean explained as she recalled her turbulent summer.
“I did have to go into the trials having done only a few running sessions and no hurdle work but I surprised myself there and have been surprised by each race since then.”
Commitment
Further testament to Dean’s success after injury is her commitment to travelling from Sheffield to Birmingham twice each week to train with Budaro’s top-class group – in addition to frequently training alone in the Yorkshire hills.
Her next appearance on the track will be on home turf in the ‘homecoming’ for Team GB at the London IAAF Diamond League meeting in Crystal Palace this Saturday, following outings in Brussels and Croatia; the latter where Dean will have the honour of representing Europe in the Inter-Continental Cup.
Evidently thrilled with her form and hungry to tackle the international stage as often as possible, Dean quotes her latest ‘Hatt’s off’ run as her biggest achievement so far:
“The Europeans steeplechase final is definitely up there and just in general this whole season as I've come back from a slight injury and raced really well despite possibly not the best preparation, and I'm pleased that I've cross-trained really hard and kept my fitness.”
Kept her fitness she has and in the countdown to 2012, Team GB may well have found a diamond in the rough; eager to hone her sparkle with a little more experience and step up into medal class where she clearly has the potential to belong.
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Welsh Wonder
WRITTEN FOR SKYSPORTS
Part of an historic Welsh one-two in the European 400m hurdles final earlier this month, Rhys Williams’ silver medal was all the more spectacular considering his resurgence back onto the international scene after years of crippling injury woes, writes Nicola Bamford.
For the 26-year-old Cardiff man, 2010 was his comeback year. Full of confidence and fuelled with the same talent and determination which took him to continental bronze four years earlier, Williams crafted a string of eight sub-50-second performances on the European circuit this summer before revising his four-year-old personal best – from his bronze medal-winning run in the Commonwealth Games - to run 48.96 for second in the Welsh extravaganza in Barcelona.
Coached by Malcolm Arnold; the man who moulded Colin Jackson into a world record-breaking 110m hurdler and who guided Uganda’s John Akii-Bua to 1972 400m hurdles Olympic gold – Williams even took to the long-jump run-way on two occasions for his club last month; leaping to a respectable 5.99m to hone his speed ahead of his big Spanish test.
Plotting Revenge
The sacrifice did not quite pay off as he expected, though; for Williams had to settle for silver behind his training partner and the hot pre-race favourite, Dai Greene, who obliterated the field to win in a time of 48.12.
“I’ve got mixed emotions if I am honest,” Williams explained. “I'm happy to have set a personal best and won a medal, however I really, really wanted to win. My season is progressing nicely and I know I can run some faster times still. My performance was my fastest to date, however I am still making stupid and basic mistakes.
I had a great time in Barcelona; the team was great and our preparation camp was great. It’s horrible getting back to normal after living in a bubble for a few weeks, but I've been busy planning ahead and for the Commonwealth Games.”
In a relationship which has been documented as a professional rather than friendship-based partnership during Williams’ occasional visits to Arnold’s Bath training base, Williams was not bitter in falling to the hands of his rival’s success; instead leaving him to do his lap of honour alone around the 1992 Olympic stadium and preferring to focus his energies on plotting revenge in October’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi – where the duo will each pull on the Welsh national vests to do battle once more.
“I’m not one of these athletes who will go out of their way to play mind games and give attitude to other athletes, it has never made me run faster,” revealed Williams. “All any athlete wants is respect from their fellow athletes and most athletes are very respectful, but not all.
It’s a great event at the moment; other great runners are about and progressing, whereas there are great juniors and other athletes who are currently injured waiting to break through. I believe it’s the best strength in depth event in the UK at the moment; definitely no reason to be complacent.”
Now with a bronze and silver from the European championships, many would assume the Loughborough university graduate would target going one better in the next edition but, as the Helsinki championships fall just weeks before the 2012 London Olympic Games, Williams has no hesitation about where his priorities will lie.
Rollercoaster
Should his sharp progression continue for the next two summers, Williams’ Olympic debut on British soil could well provide a fitting reward for the man who has bounced back from several stress fractures and operations during his track career.
Since capturing the 2003 and 2005 European junior and under23 titles, the tall Welshman burst onto the British senior scene as number one ahead of taking his European and Commonwealth medals, before though, having to miss most of the following two seasons with chronic physical issues.
His lowest point was being forced to withdraw from the Beijing Olympic Games due to a stress fracture in his right foot; a problem which flared up days earlier after attempting to win the trials in a last-gasp attempt after a year out with the problem.
Remaining motivated and keeping his head during such a rollercoaster of emotions and levels of fitness, Williams managed to reach the heats of the World championships in Berlin last summer but it was not for another twelve months that surviving such adversity paid off to fruition.
“It would be difficult for me to say and for most people to understand how 2009 went for me,” explained Williams. “I went from having a good season in 2006 to hardly being able to jog, let alone sprint for two years due to a series of injuries. Missing the Olympics was tough to accept.
Finally in 2009, I fixed my injuries and got back racing, however I was rusty and found the training and racing tough going. I was proud to be back racing and representing Britain, but I did not run as quick as I know I can. In hindsight, 2009 was a good year. I know it may sound cheesy, but overcoming my injury through perseverance is my biggest achievement to date. I learnt a lot about myself in that short space of time.”
Strong Focus
The son of rugby union legend JJ Williams, the one-lap hurdler was also a promising rugby player in his youth as well an international swimmer until aged 18 but now, for the sport which has brought him the most satisfaction, he divides his time between training in Cardiff and Bath in his quest for perfection.
“My father, despite being over 60 years of age now, still thinks he can beat me at a sprint race,” Williams exclaimed.
“There are a few Grand Prix races to do; the first of which is the IAAF Diamond League in London’s Crystal Palace this Friday; then Brussels later on in the month. I want to get my world ranking much higher and all this will prepare me well for the Commonwealth Games, which is the next main goal.”
His strong focus to make up for lost time is evident en route to fulfilling his Olympic dream and Williams admits he tries to avoid being all-consumed with the sport to remain concentrated on his goal:
“For me it’s all about switching off, as I have athletics and aiming to be the best on my brain all the time, 24/7. So I do anything it takes not to think of athletics.
I don't watch it on TV or look at results ever, as it makes me want to go out and train even harder, which isn't always conducive to running faster. I follow a lot of rugby and F1 on TV, too. I live a quiet life if I’m honest, as that's the way it has got be in order to get the most out of yourself.”
Part of an historic Welsh one-two in the European 400m hurdles final earlier this month, Rhys Williams’ silver medal was all the more spectacular considering his resurgence back onto the international scene after years of crippling injury woes, writes Nicola Bamford.
For the 26-year-old Cardiff man, 2010 was his comeback year. Full of confidence and fuelled with the same talent and determination which took him to continental bronze four years earlier, Williams crafted a string of eight sub-50-second performances on the European circuit this summer before revising his four-year-old personal best – from his bronze medal-winning run in the Commonwealth Games - to run 48.96 for second in the Welsh extravaganza in Barcelona.
Coached by Malcolm Arnold; the man who moulded Colin Jackson into a world record-breaking 110m hurdler and who guided Uganda’s John Akii-Bua to 1972 400m hurdles Olympic gold – Williams even took to the long-jump run-way on two occasions for his club last month; leaping to a respectable 5.99m to hone his speed ahead of his big Spanish test.
Plotting Revenge
The sacrifice did not quite pay off as he expected, though; for Williams had to settle for silver behind his training partner and the hot pre-race favourite, Dai Greene, who obliterated the field to win in a time of 48.12.
“I’ve got mixed emotions if I am honest,” Williams explained. “I'm happy to have set a personal best and won a medal, however I really, really wanted to win. My season is progressing nicely and I know I can run some faster times still. My performance was my fastest to date, however I am still making stupid and basic mistakes.
I had a great time in Barcelona; the team was great and our preparation camp was great. It’s horrible getting back to normal after living in a bubble for a few weeks, but I've been busy planning ahead and for the Commonwealth Games.”
In a relationship which has been documented as a professional rather than friendship-based partnership during Williams’ occasional visits to Arnold’s Bath training base, Williams was not bitter in falling to the hands of his rival’s success; instead leaving him to do his lap of honour alone around the 1992 Olympic stadium and preferring to focus his energies on plotting revenge in October’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi – where the duo will each pull on the Welsh national vests to do battle once more.
“I’m not one of these athletes who will go out of their way to play mind games and give attitude to other athletes, it has never made me run faster,” revealed Williams. “All any athlete wants is respect from their fellow athletes and most athletes are very respectful, but not all.
It’s a great event at the moment; other great runners are about and progressing, whereas there are great juniors and other athletes who are currently injured waiting to break through. I believe it’s the best strength in depth event in the UK at the moment; definitely no reason to be complacent.”
Now with a bronze and silver from the European championships, many would assume the Loughborough university graduate would target going one better in the next edition but, as the Helsinki championships fall just weeks before the 2012 London Olympic Games, Williams has no hesitation about where his priorities will lie.
Rollercoaster
Should his sharp progression continue for the next two summers, Williams’ Olympic debut on British soil could well provide a fitting reward for the man who has bounced back from several stress fractures and operations during his track career.
Since capturing the 2003 and 2005 European junior and under23 titles, the tall Welshman burst onto the British senior scene as number one ahead of taking his European and Commonwealth medals, before though, having to miss most of the following two seasons with chronic physical issues.
His lowest point was being forced to withdraw from the Beijing Olympic Games due to a stress fracture in his right foot; a problem which flared up days earlier after attempting to win the trials in a last-gasp attempt after a year out with the problem.
Remaining motivated and keeping his head during such a rollercoaster of emotions and levels of fitness, Williams managed to reach the heats of the World championships in Berlin last summer but it was not for another twelve months that surviving such adversity paid off to fruition.
“It would be difficult for me to say and for most people to understand how 2009 went for me,” explained Williams. “I went from having a good season in 2006 to hardly being able to jog, let alone sprint for two years due to a series of injuries. Missing the Olympics was tough to accept.
Finally in 2009, I fixed my injuries and got back racing, however I was rusty and found the training and racing tough going. I was proud to be back racing and representing Britain, but I did not run as quick as I know I can. In hindsight, 2009 was a good year. I know it may sound cheesy, but overcoming my injury through perseverance is my biggest achievement to date. I learnt a lot about myself in that short space of time.”
Strong Focus
The son of rugby union legend JJ Williams, the one-lap hurdler was also a promising rugby player in his youth as well an international swimmer until aged 18 but now, for the sport which has brought him the most satisfaction, he divides his time between training in Cardiff and Bath in his quest for perfection.
“My father, despite being over 60 years of age now, still thinks he can beat me at a sprint race,” Williams exclaimed.
“There are a few Grand Prix races to do; the first of which is the IAAF Diamond League in London’s Crystal Palace this Friday; then Brussels later on in the month. I want to get my world ranking much higher and all this will prepare me well for the Commonwealth Games, which is the next main goal.”
His strong focus to make up for lost time is evident en route to fulfilling his Olympic dream and Williams admits he tries to avoid being all-consumed with the sport to remain concentrated on his goal:
“For me it’s all about switching off, as I have athletics and aiming to be the best on my brain all the time, 24/7. So I do anything it takes not to think of athletics.
I don't watch it on TV or look at results ever, as it makes me want to go out and train even harder, which isn't always conducive to running faster. I follow a lot of rugby and F1 on TV, too. I live a quiet life if I’m honest, as that's the way it has got be in order to get the most out of yourself.”
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