Down The Track

Continuing the coverage from the recent Australian Track & Field Championships, Sean and Tim turn their focus to the field and multi events.  Brooke Stratton joins DTT for a feature interview and takes us through the Championship leap of 6.84m which secured her spot on the Tokyo team. 

Other interviews include Nina Kennedy, Elyssia Kenshole, Nicola McDermott, Ned Weatherly, Damien Birkenhead, Kathryn Mitchell & Rachel Limburg. Rounding out the interviews, Cedric Dubler and Ash Moloney have an entertaining wrap of the men's decathlon over a beer or two.

Down the Track were certainly trackside at the Australian Track & Field Championships, coming home with a number of high profile interviews from some of the nation's best athletes.

Episode 56 Part 1 covers the track events from the 100m through to the 10k walk featuring interviews with Rohan Browning, Jake Penny, Hana Basic, Peter Bol, Tess Kirsopp-Cole, Stewart McSweyn, Jye Edwards, Linden Hall & Rhydian Cowley. Sean and Tim talk in detail about each track event providing analysis of how the races panned out, the key players and the ramifications leading through to the Tokyo Olympics.

Make sure you tune into Down the Track for the most comprehensive wrap of what was a very significant championship event.

Yesterday on International Women’s Day, Sean and Tim were lucky to be joined on Episode 55 of Down the Track by Chloe Stevens, Grace Kelly, and Simone Brick. The theme for this year was “Choose to Challenge”. We found out what challenges they’ve each faced in athletics, which women have mentored them in the sport, and what advice they would give to women looking at getting into the sport of athletics.

In our second instalment of the Victorian Championships review, Mark Stewart, Marty Jackson and Matt Carter join us to talk about their areas of interest - Vertical Jumps, Throws and Sprints.

With each detailing their top 3 performances from each event group, we also review a range of different events and age categories across the two weekends of competition to wrap up an exciting few weeks in Victorian athletics.

Two exciting weekends of Track & Field action have just concluded at Lakeside Stadium for the combined Junior and Open Victorian Championships.

Joining Sean and Tim in part one of this two part Championship wrap are experienced coaches Brent Vallance, Peter Benifer, Cathy Woodruff and Gavin Burren to talk on the Walks, Hurdles, Horizontal Jumps and Middle Distance events respectively.

With great depth of knowledge across the events and the talent competing, our coaches list their highlight performances and memorable occasions from the five days of competition.

In another big episode of Down the Track, Sean and Tim interview two of the most exciting prospects in Australian athletics - Hana Basic & Morgan McDonald.

A World Junior representative in 2014, Hana Basic has come out of the Covid period in great form over the 100m. In a two part interview we talk to Hana about her recent performances in the Tasmanian gifts before setting the track on fire back in Victoria. In interview no.1 we get to know more about Hana... her life in and away from athletics and her goals and aspirations.  Hana also talked about what it would take to break the 11.5 mark for the 100m, which then leads to interview no.2 recorded after her 11.45 performance at High Velocity Club.

A great personality who is now delivering performances that will put her in the eyes of the Olympic selectors, get to know Hana in an entertaining two part interview.

Like many of the US based Australians, Morgan McDonald's performances often go under the radar. With an International career that started in 2013 as a junior at the World Cross Country Championships, Morgan is now carving out a career as a professional athlete in the States. What that means for his running and life in general is delved into as he talks candidly about his performances and the life he is building in terms of the training environment, coaching structure and how to stay occupied in what can at times be a very one dimensional world.

Sean and Tim close the episode wrapping up the latest domestic and international news. Pre lockdown 3 was a busy time in Victorian athletics and results from the Victorian Multi, Mile & 5000m championships are discussed together with the latest Specialist group news. Sean also provides a summary of the recent ACT Championships in Canberra. And heading back to the US, the recent results of Oli Hoare, Morgan MCDonald and Charlie Hunter make for good discussion points.

And in what may amount to a major turning point in the history of Australian Athletics, the appointment of Kate Palmer to head the One Sport initiative closes out an entertaining episode of DTT.

Timeline
0.00:00 to 0:03:10  Intro
0:03:10 to 0:44:42  Hana Basic Interview 1
0:44:43 to 1:27:05  Morgan McDonald
1:27:06 to 1:38:28  Hana Basic interview 2
1:38:29 to 2:14:10  Summary of domestic, interstate and international results together with an update on the National Championships and the appointment of Kate Palmer

Join Sean and Tim for the most comprehensive post-event coverage of the Zatopek.

With all events on the program discussed in-depth, this is your chance to relive all the action of another great night of Australian athletics.

And as a bonus, the highlights from AV’s High Velocity Club and Country Championships are discussed.

Down the Track returns for 2021! Joining Sean and Tim is Victorian 100m Champion Jake Penny, and Ryan Gregson, a man who has played a major role in the resurgence of Australian middle distance racing.

In early 2020 Jake Penny delivered a number of performances that indicated his sprint career was on the rise.  Moving from the 10.5 to 10.3 range propelled Penny into the National top 10, then a wind assisted 10.17 at the Vic Championships had everyone talking.

So get to know the man behind the times in a revealing interview with Jake that delves into the past, present and the potential future of one of Victoria's leading sprint talents.

Ryan Gregson joins DTT to talk all things Zatopek and to reveal a little more about his 2020 experiences and the current state of middle distance running. An evergreen of the Australian and World athletic scene, Ryan has great insight into our sport having experienced the highs and lows for well over a decade.

Sean and Tim finish the episode covering a range of domestic events such as High Velocity, Milers Club, the Bendigo 5k Frenzy and Zatopek lower grades, together with observations and news on the International front.

So have a listen to Episode 51 to keep up to date with all things athletics.

Ever wondered about the NCAA experience? In episode 50 of Down the Track, Sean and Tim talk to Kyle Murphy and Archie Wallis about navigating their way into Harvard and Wake Forest Universities respectively, their experiences so far and how the pandemic has impacted their scholastic and athletic ambitions.

As expected each story has its unique aspects and can provide good learnings for Australian athletes and parents about the NCAA system and the pros and cons of considering this as a potential pathway.

Sean and Tim also chat about whats been happening in the world of athletics as we look forward to the potential return of some sort of Covid normal in 2021.

In recognition of the International Day of People with Disability, Down the Track are very pleased to welcome Australian legend Louise Sauvage to the podcast.

Joining Louise as co-interviewers are Richard Colman and Jaryd Clifford.  As Australian athletes with their own long list of achievements, Richard and Jaryd talk to Louise about her post-competitive career experiences and where she sees the Para movement heading in terms of opportunities, recognition, and technology.  With three well-versed people in this field, listeners will come away with some great insights and anecdotes into the Paralympic world.

Sean and Tim also provide some updates on what's happening in Athletics across the state, country and world.  So tune in to Down the Track to keep up to date with our athletics world.

After a promising athletic career across middle and long-distance events, a series of injuries curtailed Grace Brown's progression.  2015 saw Grace's final performances in the Box Hill colours and she essentially disappeared from the athletic world only to reappear barely two years later as an emerging cyclist on the Australian and European circuits.

Now signed with the Australian Mitchelton Scott professional cycling team, Grace joins Down the Track to take us through her story... the transition away from running, her initial forays into cycling, life of the professional circuit, and what may lie ahead in her cycling career.

With a string of recent performances that have propelled Grace into the spotlight, we talk through her fifth placing in the Individual Time Trial at the World Championships, second place at Liege-Bastonge-Liege and finally her breakthrough European victory at the Brabantse Pijl road race.  Despite the upheaval of 2020, it has been a good year for Grace on the bike and we look forward to following her career both on the roads in Australia and at major races around the world.

Sean and Tim also catch up to discuss recent athletic results and Sean does another deep dive into one of his favourite topics - athletic shoe technology.

In a special edition of Down the Track, Sean and Tim analyse all the action from the London Marathon. Although the hype around the Kipchoge/Bekele showdown didn’t eventuate there were still many talking points from a unique event conducted amidst the COVID-19 period. 

Jess Rothwell joins us for the second part of the podcast to talk all things nutrition. A world classwalker in her own right, Jess now assists our high performance athletes as part of the Athletics Australia team and speaks of her role and some of the interesting experiences it entails. Jess also dispels some nutritional myths and gives us the low down on life on a dairy farm. So keep up to date with Australian Athletics and tune in to Down the Track.

Newly elected AV Committee member Kim Mulhall joins Sean and Tim for an extensive conversation covering the many aspects of her involvement in athletics.  With twenty-one Victorian State titles to her name, together with a string of National tiles in both Senior and Junior ranks, Kim's experience from grassroots athletics through to international competition enables her to speak with authority on so many issues.

As head coach of the Caulfield Grammar athletic program, Kim discusses both the barriers and opportunities that present when working within the school system and broader athletic community, an area of expertise Kim hopes will assist Athletics Victoria to develop sustainable strategies as we emerge from the COVID period.

In a candid discussion of her own athletic career, Kim reveals for the first time the story of her PB Discus performance in the US and the question mark that this throw still has surrounding it.

In the second of our series focusing on the many and varied clubs that make up our state association, Bryan Cake from the Traralgon Harriers provides a wonderful insight into the club and the characters that have played an important role in the LaTrobe Valley and greater Gippsland region for many decades.  With a wonderful history of community involvement and early recognition of the 'recreational running' boom, the Traralgon Harriers in the traditional black uniform have been a mainstay of our XCR competition, whilst still providing track and field and recreational opportunities for their members. 

Timeline:

0:00:00 to 0:03:31 - Intro conversation

0:03:32 to 0:43:58 - Kim Mulhall - champion athlete, school coach, and Athletics Victoria Committee member

0:43:59 to 1:10:58 - Bryan Cake talks all things Traralgon Harriers

1:10:59 to 1:29:54 - Wrap of international results and other athletic news

In Episode 45 we've reached out to a number of people involved across the spectrum of athletics... athletes, a coach, a health professional and sports administrator to gauge the impact of COVID-19 and in particular life under Stage 4 restrictions.

As expected this hasn't been easy for any of us, but the resounding theme through the interviews is one of hope, positivity, and resilience.  Whether it's been a change to your ability to access facilities, see your coach & squad or even in one case totally changing the way you do business, the lessons and experiences we'll take away from 2020 will be ongoing and continue to impact our lives and sport for years to come, if not permanently.

Our thanks to Catherine Mendes, Peter Benifer, Ella Hose, Craig Wallace, Alice Baquie and Matt Rizzo for sharing their stories and opening up about the impacts on their personal, professional, and sporting lives.  Each story is unique in its own way, but the common message around adjusting to restrictions and just getting on with it, typifies the response that will hopefully see Victoria emerge from this phase in the coming weeks.

Sean and Tim also wrap the podcast with some of the international news and the positive moves Athletics Victoria is taking to keep athletes, coaches, officials, and athletics fans engaged.

If you'd like to follow some of our guests to keep up with what they are doing, here's some Instagram handles:

Catherine Mendes - @cat_mendes_

Peter Benifer - @pbssquad

Alice Baquie - @alicebaquie

Matt Rizzo - @matt.rizzo

And for anyone that wants to try a free online Pilates class with Alice Baquie go to:

https://programs.alicebaquie.com.au/courses/pilates-at-home-free-session

Also here is a link to her website

https://programs.alicebaquie.com.au/bundles/pilates-home-online-access

Hammer throwing super couple Alexandra Hulley and Ned Weatherly join Down the Track for a great discussion on what is often a forgotten event in athletics. Tracking through their international and domestic careers, Alex and Ned speak with passion about one of the more technical disciplines, which although may not share the limelight with track events, certainly doesn’t lack the drama, talent and the characters who make for exciting competition when they step into the ring.

And although they have different personalities we get to hear what drives each of them in their quests to make their marks in the sport and how life in general is moving along for them personally and professionally in a changed world.

We also catch up with Dr. Alice McNamara to get a first-hand account of life on the COVID-19 frontline. A practising Sports Medicine Doctor, Alice is also manning testing stations several days a week as part of the concerted effort to bring the virus under control. Her insight into the impact the virus is having, together with some clear explanation of close contacts and the need for isolation may fill in the gaps of what you need to know about the current situation in Victoria.

And did we mention Alice is a two time World Champion as a representative rower for Australia, seven-time winner of the Eureka Tower stair climb and also a winner of the Empire State stair climb in New York? A fascinating conversation that covers some vital issues we all now face.

Another interesting episode of Down the Track as the restrictions ramp up once again.

Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:03:07 Intro and welcome Alex Hulley and Ned Weatherly to Episode 44
0:03:08 to 1:02:29 We delve into the world of hammer throwing with our two guests
1:02:30 to 1:33:28 Dr. Alice McNamara joins us to talk about the pandemic and her role on the frontline
1:33:29 to 1:44:53 Episode wrap with some discussion on the World and Australian Cross Country Championships, Melbourne Marathon, new rules around track spikes, and what’s happening at Athletics Victoria.

Here’s how you can follow our guests:

Alex Hulley
Instagram - @alexhulley

Ned Weatherly
Instagram - @nedweatherly82

Dr. Alice McNamara
Instagram - @_alice_mac
Podcast – BrowShowPodcast presents Doc, Doc, Goose

In Episode 43 Sean and Tim have an in-depth conversation with Stu Macaulay.  For over 20 years Stu has been a fixture within the Athletics Victoria community as an Athlete, Coach, Administrator, Team Manager, and State Selector – roles which he has brought passion and commitment to.

In a broad-ranging conversation, Stu details his background both in a sporting and professional context, plus his motivation for doing what he does.  As a man who has impacted the lives of many others, we also hear from Western Athletics members Claire Hodgart, Nardine Bainbridge, Phil Dunstone, and Adrian Jeffkins on their experiences with Stu and the influence he's had on each of them personally and the club that they all call home.

So to fill in the blanks about a person who has contributed so much to our sport, have a listen to the first episode in our "People in Athletics" series and get to know Stu Macaulay.

Episode 42 kicks off with Olympian Peter Bol chatting to Sean and Tim about his life in and out of sport. From his move to Australia in the early 2000s through to his rise in the domestic and international athletics scene, Peter gets to tell his story. And as a skilled storyteller, we hear him weaving the characters he’s met and experiences he’s had into a wonderful tale about a young man finding his place in the world.

In a new segment, Stu Macaulay from Western Athletics discusses all about his club and what has made the mob from the west one of the most successful and highly functioning athletic clubs in the country. With 20 years of experience at the club, Stu talks about the characters who have shaped Western Athletics on and off the track and where he sees the club headed into the future.

Sean then provides an update on some international news including another athlete suspension and perhaps the most famous 185m run ever.

So tune in to Down the Track for more up to date news in the world of athletics.

Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:02:12 Intro and welcome Sean & Peter Bol to Episode 42
0:02:13 to 0:35:12 Get to know Peter Bol
0:35:13 to 0:58:14 Focus on Western Athletics with Stu Macaulay
0:58:15 to 1:09:22 Some international news and the episode wrap

Sean and Tim are joined by Luke Mathews for Episode 41 of Down the Track. Having just turned 25, Luke has already endured the highs and lows of athletics with his performances speaking for themselves, but on the flip side the 'down' times influencing the athlete we see today.

In a candid interview, Luke discusses his current training environment, the key influences in his career, and the impact the delay to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games has had on his competitive plans.

Luke also goes into detail about a number of his key performances to date, including his classic showdown with David Rudisha over 800m at Lakeside Stadium in 2015, his 2017 World Championship campaign, the 2018 Commonwealth Games 800m and finally the 2019 Australian 1500m final - one of the most anticipated races in recent athletics history.

Sean and Tim also discuss the most recent drugs in sport-related controversies surrounding Doha World Champions Christian Coleman and Salwa Eid Naser, and chat about the recent Athletics Australia awards.

In a special episode of DTT we welcome Athletics Victoria CEO Glenn Turnor to give an update on where we are with the planning for a return to competition.

With a lot of speculation circulating, particularly given the return of NRL and AFL, Glenn details the discussions and negotiations the sport of athletics has been involved in at both the state and national level.

So if you want the real story behind the return to play planning for athletics listen in to Episode 40 of Down the Track.

In the second of our two-part podcast with Bridie O’Donnell, we discuss a number of key themes centred around women in sport.

The first of these is the current imbalance in sport in terms of governance roles and the opportunities provided for women in elite sport. Bridie talks about how the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation is working with the sporting community to effect structural change across associations and clubs. With a broad background in elite sport, Bridie’s views and experiences as a female within professional sport provides an understanding of the specific issues elite women face.

The portrayal of women in sport is also discussed and touches on how the press and major broadcasters approach coverage and promotion of both teams and individuals. How this impacts what we see or read, and also the financial opportunities that may or may not stem from the decisions made by broadcasters or sports associations provides some thought-provoking discussion.

Finally, Bridie delves into some of the negative impacts of elite level sport on the health and well being of participants, both female and male.  

Our thanks to Bridie O’Donnell for her frank discussion on a number of topics that can at times be pushed to one side or simply ignored across Australia’s sporting landscape.

Trying to encapsulate Bridie O’Donnell’s life and achievements in one paragraph is no simple task. A stand out scholar, medical practitioner, elite sportswoman across multiple disciplines, and leading sports administrator are the headline phrases, but the stories behind each provide a rich tale of intertwined themes and experiences.

In part one of this two part podcast, Sean and Tim talk to Bridie about her formative years and the motivations that drove her into the world of elite sports… and ultimately a leading role in sports administration in Victoria as the Director of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation.

A self-confessed ‘try-hard’, Bridie’s sporting achievements underly a driven character not afraid to break through barriers, challenge the norms, and carve a path that has led to a fundamental change in the management of sporting associations and clubs in this state.

We hope you enjoy part one, which provides the perfect platform for part two where some major themes in sport, particularly women’s sport, are examined.

As an athlete who at one time held every major championship title, Olympic and World Champion Pole Vaulter Steve Hooker joins 3to1 to delve into what he believes to be his three greatest performances.

Providing a wonderful insight into what’s required to produce a clearance, or series of clearances that matter, Steve takes us behind the scenes for each performance.  And with these performances all unique in their own way, the mental and physical aspects before, during and after each competition help tell the story of why Steve Hooker is considered one of the greatest individual athletes Australia has ever produced.

Joining Steve is Mark Stewart, Steve’s first Pole Vault coach.  The bond between these two, built on mutual trust and respect, helps guide the conversation with Mark’s commentary and insight into each performance presenting a different angle to that of the athlete.

Sean and Tim are joined by two separate guests for Episode 38 of Down the Track, former Australian 800m champion Kelly Hetherington and Oceania Athletics’ Competition Manager Tom O’Shaughnessy

During a career that culminated in selection for the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Kelly has certainly experienced more than her fair share of disappointment and heartache.  But always shining through with an optimistic and can do attitude, Kelly’s athletics career should, and will, be defined more by her successes than the hurdles that have been a constant part of her story.

From her beginnings in Queensland through to her current career and competition situation, Kelly opens up about the highs and lows of sport and life and the ever present characters in her life that have helped shape the person we see.

With recent structural changes to qualification systems, Oceania Athletics now find themselves in a position where southern Australia is acutely interested in their competition offerings.  Tom O’Shaughnessy has been with Oceania Athletics through this transition period and provides a great insiders view of how the region is structured and the challenges/opportunities that lie ahead for what is a hugely diverse region.

Sean also enlightens us about a recently released report into the structure and operations at UK Athletics and the impact this may have, while Tim tackles the number 38.

With some very entertaining interviews, DTT Ep 38 continues to bring you great insight into the world of athletics and the people who make our sport what it is.

Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:02:20 Intro and welcome Sean & Kelly Hetherington to Episode 38
0:02:21 to 1:05:00 Get to know Kelly Hetherington
1:05:01 to 1:40:58 Tom O’Shaughnessy discussing all things Oceania Athletics
1:40:59 to 1:52:58 The goings on at UK Athletics, Tim talks no.39 and the episode wrap

For Episode 37 Sean and Tim are joined by the President of Athletics Australia, Mark Arbib.

After a political career as a NSW Senator, that included time as the Federal Minister for Sport, Mark has had extensive experience with a number of major sports. These include Rugby Union, Rugby League, and Football, and he also sits on the Australian Olympic Committee.

In some broad-ranging discussions we delve into the world of Mark Arbib including his vast experience in Australia’s sporting landscape and the motivations behind his move into the senior leadership position for Athletics in this country.

Mark also details what’s been happening at Athletics Australia during the pandemic and how their operational model has adapted to the new working conditions we all face.

With Bathurst 2021 now a major focus for AA, we discuss how preparations are tracking and if the current situation may impact the planning and delivery of the World Cross Country Championship.

So if you want to get to know the man who’s leading our sport in Australia, tune in to Down the Track Ep. 37

Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:01:12 Intro and welcome Sean & Mark Arbib to Episode 37
0:01:13 to 0:29:57 Get to know Mark Arbib
0:29:58 to 0:43:57 What’s happening at Athletics Australia including competition options and the One Sport model   
0:43:58 to 1:01:54 Some updates on Bathurst 2021 in light of the current situation
1:01:55 to 1:06:10 Episode wrap and Sean enlightens us with some knowledge on the number 37

AFL legend and media personality Kane Cornes joins Sean and Tim for the latest episode of Down the Track.

After an illustrious 300 game AFL career with Port Adelaide that included the 2004 Premiership, two All Australian selections, and four club best and fairest awards, Kane has now transitioned into the media with numerous roles in television, radio and print media.

His post-football career, however, has seen him develop a passion for running and athletics which has seen him run a 2:35 marathon in Melbourne and become an advocate for our sport in the media.

Kane provides great insight on how the Covid19 has impacted major sport across Australia and what it may mean heading into the future for these sports.  On a personal front, the isolation measures have led to Kane having to adjust his work environment and adapt to life at home, which included him running a marathon around his tennis court to raise money for charity!

In international news, the British athletic community is in mourning following the death of former UKA Performance Director Neil Black.  And the Berlin Marathon is the latest major event to either postpone or cancel… although it’s actual status is still uncertain.

In this episode we also try to give some clarity around what you can or cannot do in terms of exercise, traveling to exercise, and exercising with your coach or a friend.

The episode wraps with a tribute to Elaine McLeod who passed away this week after battling Parkinson's Disease.  The Athletics Essendon life member lived a very productive life as an elite athlete, athletics administrator, official and coach and her smiling face at tracks around Victoria and Tasmania will be sorely missed.

Another big episode of Down the Track providing some much-needed distraction from our isolated world.

Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:01:40 Intro and welcome Sean & Kane Cornes to Episode 36
0:01:41 to 0:40:34 A high profile media figure, we delve into how the current situation is impacting Kane Cornes and how he’s dealing with it on a personal and professional front
0:40:35 to 1:05:55 Kane discusses the broader ramifications   
1:05:56 to 1:14:57
1:14:58 to 1:22:21 What’s happening in the world of AV
1:22:22 to 1:31:24 Tim discusses the sad passing of Athletics Essendon life member Elaine McLeod and details her impressive background as an athlete and huge contribution as an administrator, official and coach.

Since the last episode in early March, the world as we know it has certainly changed a little. So after a short hiatus, Down the Track is back and what an episode it is. Sean and Tim are joined by Australian running legend Steve Moneghetti to discuss the impact and ramifications of Covid19 – particularly in terms of the sport of athletics.

By mid-March, it was obvious that the situation was getting serious and the cascading number of event cancellations started to hit home to the athletics and running fraternity. Sean talks about the cancellation of the Australian Championships while Steve talks about his experience with one of Victoria’s largest running events, the Run for the Kids.

And it's not just events in the firing line, training for everyone has now been upended as squads are no longer allowed, social distancing is the thing and the ability to travel to training venues curtailed.  So adapting to a new routine is important and Steve talks of his personal experience of adjustment and workarounds.

The IOC finally made the call on the Olympics with the decision being made to shift it by almost exactly 12 months to 2021. Sean examines some of the changed qualification processes for Tokyo 2021 and raises the question of who may be benefitting or disadvantaged by the changes. Steve looks at it from the athlete’s perspective and delves into what decisions or thought processes athletes will be making right now.

The knock-on effect of the changed Olympic date means that the 2021 World Athletics Championships scheduled for Oregon moves to 2022 and into a similar time slot as the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. What does this mean for the athletes and the selection of the Australian teams?  And with the World Indoors in 2021 moving to the same weekend as the World Cross Country Championships to be conducted in Bathurst, will this impact the first major athletics competition in Australia for 20 years?

It’s a case of no rest for the wicked as the AV staff transition to working from home and continue to keep the wheels turning in the world of athletics. With no scheduled competition it is a changed dynamic but this hasn’t stopped a flurry of activity. One such activity is the transition of Coach Education to online learning while our Competitions and Community Engagement teams are hard at it preparing for the world post-pandemic.

Episode 35 wraps with a shout out to Tori West and her new podcast Athletics Up North.  With two episodes already released featuring Jake Doran and Benita Willis, this is certainly another podcast you should add to the playlist.

It’s great to be back and we’re sure you’ll find plenty of interesting conversation in the latest episode of Down the Track.

Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:02:20 – Intro and welcome Sean & Steve Moneghetti to Episode 35
0:02:21 to 0:34:49 – Sean, Tim and Steve discuss the broader ramifications on training and competition of the current crisis
0:34:50 to 0:54:04 – What’s happening with the Olympics?
0:54:05 to 1:10:46 – The impact on the 2021 World Championships and 2022 Commonwealth Games, plus with the World Cross Country in Bathurst now clashing with the World Indoors in China what does this mean?
1:10:47 to 1:23:46 – What’s happening in the world of AV
1:23:47 to 1:35:10 – Episode wrap and a shout out to the Athletics Up North podcast hosted by Tori West

With weekend one of the Victorian Track & Field Championships completed, there’s plenty to talk about in Episode 34 of Down the Track.

Fresh off her Under 20 400m win in the Vic Champs, and a recent 100m PB of 11.70, Mia Gross joins Sean and Tim to discuss her performance and review other standout performances from the first weekend.  We get to hear from Dalton Di Medio, Emma Werner and Jake Penny who all took home Victorian State titles, a first for Dalton and Emma.

The breaking news last Friday was Eleanor Patterson breaking the Australian High Jump record at the Capital Classic in Wellington, with a clearance of 1.99m.  After reaching 1.96m as a 17 year old, Eleanor’s foray back into top level jumping that has involved a number of critical changes behind the scenes, sees the 23 year old now in a position to challenge the best in the world.

Already dubbed ‘Geelong’s finest’ by Sean, Mia then tells us her story that includes some amusing tales from the self confessed accident prone athlete who has faced numerous challenges in competition both home and abroad.  Mia describes her support network, the special bond in her family and the support she has received from Joe Gulli and Jess Gulli-Nance that has enabled her continued involvement in the sport.

Sean enlightens us on a low key meet in Canberra that saw both Peter Bol and Joseph Deng record 1:45’s, with Mason Cohen and Dylan Stenson not far behind with sub 1:47’s.  For Stenson this was a new South Australian state record and first time under 1:47, after recording 18 sub 1:48’s in his career! Tasmanian junior sensation Sam Clifford also produced a top performance in his home state’s championships with a solo 14:05 in the 5000m.

Continuing on the record breaking theme, Swede Armand Duplantis continues to extend his Pole Vault World Record run with am indoor clearance of 6.18m in Glasgow, another 1cm advancement on his own performance in Poland the week before. Meanwhile all distance running eyes were on the US Olympic Marathon trials in Atlanta where some expected and totally unexpected results occurred to shape the US team for Sapporo.

Victoria’s own Amy Cashin recorded her first sub 9min 3000m track performance in the US, finishing just 1sec behind event winner Jess Hull in an Indoor meet in Boston.  Sean then explains the science behind the varied dynamics of indoor tracks in the US, a must listen for anyone of the nerdier types fascinated by centrifugal force!  And to round out the international news we talk Coronavirus and it’s potential impact on world sport.

With weekend two of the Victorian Track & Field Championships upon us and all of our Specialist Groups in action the week after, there’s plenty to look forward to domestically as we head towards the Australian Championships later in the month.
Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:01:14  Intro and welcome Sean & Mia Gross to Episode 34
0:01:15 to 0:46:04  Victorian T&F Championship Weekend 1 recap
0:46:05to 0:50:34  Eleanor Patterson claims the Australian High Jump record
0:50:35 to 1:23:55  In depth with Mia Gross
1:23:56 to 1:28:49  Interstate news
1:28:50 to 1:55:01   International update
1:55:02 to 2:00:27   What’s coming up – Vic Champs Weekend 2, RAC, VMC, AVT & HVC

The summer of athletics keeps rolling on with local, interstate and a number of events across the ditch in New Zealand providing plenty of options for competitors at all levels.

Joining Sean and Tim in the studio is one of Australia’s leading sprinters, and a man who really doesn’t need an introduction – Jack Hale.

Jack adds his insights into the Track Classics and his recent experience at the Sir Graham Douglas International Meet in Auckland.  Once again we go through some of the highlight performances from Canberra and Sydney including our High Jump girls and the Deng V Bol show continuing on its merry way.

We also get to know a little bit more about Jack Hale, going behind the media spin and trying to find out the drivers that keep him going in what can be a very tough sporting environment.  Jack’s desire for an individual team spot at the highest level, and the pursuit of faster times shine through as key motivators, so too the strong support base and camaraderie among many of our nation’s top sprinters.

The AVSL playoffs saw a culmination of our domestic competition for season 2019-20.  With five divisions being decided on the day, and four promotion/relegation battles contested, it certainly was a busy but very entertaining day at Lakeside Stadium.

The Specialist Groups continue their great work in delivering strong levels of competition for athletes of all ability levels.  High Velocity Meet 1 was staged at the Duncan MacKinnon Track in Murrumbeena with some good performances over the 100m, 200m, 400m, long jump and 400m hurdles. The following week Melbourne University played host to the 104th Men’s and 17th Women’s Victorian Mile Championships at Victorian Milers Club Meet 4.  Championship wins went to Lachie Barber (WES) and Madeleine Murray (DKN), with Western Athletics scoring a rare 1-2-3 in the Men’s race.

A much anticipated battle took place in the Men’s 800m with Peter Bol holding out Joseph Deng, the pair now holding positions one and three on the VMC 800m All Time list courtesy of these runs.

Rare Air Club changed dates and venues due to Melbourne’s unusual run of summer weather, with Box Hill hosting another good competition.  Cassidy Bradshaw and Elyssia Kenshole went head to head once again while the Di Medio brothers, Dalton and Andre, vaulted well and were split by Tasmanian visitor Matt Hosie.

Brisbane hosted our multi talented multi eventers for a weekend of running, jumping and throwing.  We review the results with a particular eye on the Victorian performers and our Gold medallists Noah Oliver, Mia Scerri and Sebastian Reyneke.

Another road racing world record fell over the weekend with Ababel Yeshaneh from Ethiopia slicing 20 seconds from the Women’s Half Marathon mark.  And it appears the Salazar name is back in the news again, this time following a Panorama (UK TV program) investigative piece around Mo Farah, UK Athletics and the use of L-carnitine as a supplement. 

The Victorian Championships are now upon us for the next two weekends, so there continues to be plenty to talk about as we head towards Episode 34 next week.

Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:00:57 Intro and welcome Sean & Jack Hale to Episode 33
0:01:34 to 0:32:09 Canberra & Sydney Track Classic review
0:32:10 to 0:48:44 Sir Graham Douglas International Meet - Auckland
0:48:45 to 1:18:58 In depth with Jack Hale
1:18:59 to 1:26:00 AVSL playoffs wrap
1:26:01 to 1:49:49  High Velocity Club, Victorian Milers Club & Rare Air Club review
1:49:50 to 2:01:14  Combined Event Championship results from Brisbane
2:01:15 to 2:09:19 International news – another World Record on the road falls and there seems to be more coming out on Alberto Salazar
2:09:20 to 2:13:25 Episode wrap

War Memorial Drive in Adelaide played host the Australian 20km Walks Championship, doubling as the Olympic Selection trial.  Our special guest for Episode 32 is Jemima Montag, who secured her ticket to the Olympics with a great performance on Sunday.

This episode kicks off with a review of the Melbourne Track Classic with Sean listing his top three performances on the track (and a couple of honourable mentions) while Tim looks at what was happening in the field.

Our special guest relives the action from Adelaide and what it felt like to not only win her first Open Australian Championship but to also get the auto qualifier for the Olympics.  We also cover off Dane Bird-Smith’s win and the options open to Rhydian Cowley.

In what should be a ‘must listen’ segment for all aspiring athletes, Jemima then tells her story of life, sport and the issues faced by athletes of this generation.  With body image and eating disorders quite prevalent in endurance sports, Jemima  reveals her own account of dealing with such issues and the support networks necessary to navigate the journey.

The AVSL season comes to a conclusion with the premiership showdowns and promotion/relegation battles so we look through the ladders to see who’s shaping up for what.

In international news, Brett Robinson claims a fairly old Australian record in the Half Marathon, the Milrose Games witnessed a new star on the rise, all is not well in the world of Canadian athletics and Sean sums up the World Athletics ruling on running shoe design.

With the Canberra Track Classic coming up and the Australian Multi Events Championships in Brisbane, another busy weekend awaits and then there’s HVC, VMC, RAC and AVT all doing their stuff in Victoria.

The world of athletics never sleeps and you’ll continue to find the most comprehensive coverage of our sport in Australia on Down the Track.


Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:01:33 Intro and welcome Sean & Jemima Montag to Episode 32
0:01:34 to 0:22:01 Melbourne Track Classic review
0:22:02 to 0:42:30 Australian 20km Walk Championship and Oceania U20 10km Walk
0:42:31 to 1:28:35 In depth with Jemima Montag
1:28:36 to 1:32:31 AVSL ladder update leading to the playoffs
1:32:32 to 1:52:17 The International update
1:52:18 to 2:04:30  Canberra Track Classic and Australian Multi event championship preview
2:04:31 to 2:09:16 What’s coming up
2:09:17 to 2:12:15 Episode wrap

Sean and Tim are joined by Para athlete extraordinaire Marty Jackson for Episode 31. Marty has made a big impact in athletics over his five year involvement in the sport and with a Commonwealth Games silver and World Para Championship bronze medal already in his collection, Marty talks about his life and plans leading through to the next World Championships in 2021.   .  

The Geelong Region once again hosted the very successful Steigen Victorian Country Championships over the Australia Day long weekend.  Some of the highlight performances are discussed including Kath Mitchell’s return to competition and the very strong performances in the throws events in particular.  

Box Hill hosted another record breaking Victorian Milers Club while the Rare Air Club had a split competition between Melbourne University and Casey Fields.  A lively conversation about pacers at Milers Club ensues… definitely some frustration expressed by our track side experts.

Eleanor Patterson signalled her return to top flight competition by posting an equal PB and Olympic Qualifier with a 1.96m High Jump performance at the ACT Championships.  Jack Hale also impressed in the 100m, while Mia Gross produced a 100m World Junior Championship Qualifier with a legal run of 11.74secs. Darcey Roper had a great series in the Long Jump and looks to be building well towards the Nationals

Internationally we had Jess Hull and Lisa Weightman posting big performances.  Hull broke Melissa Duncan’s 1500m Australian Indoor record with a 4:04.14 in Boston, a nice confidence booster before returning to Australia for the 5000m Championship.  Meanwhile in Osaka Lisa Weightman staked her claim to become only the second Australian woman to run the marathon at four Olympic Games with a 2:26.02 performance.

With AVSL rolling on to its exciting climax at Lakeside on February 22nd, the Box Hill Classic on January 30th and the Melbourne Track Classic set for February 6th there is certainly plenty happening in the world of Victorian athletics.

Stay tuned for episode 32 of Down the Track and another very special guest.


Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:01:06 Intro and welcome Sean & Marty Jackson to Episode 31
0:01:00 to 0:44:07 Get to know Marty Jackson
0:44:08 to 0:56:42 Country Championships wrap
0:56:43 to 1:16:22 Rare Air Club and Milers Club
1:16:23 to 1:31:51 ACT Champs and the international news
1:31:52 to 1:46:00 What’s coming up AVSL, the Box Hill Classic and Melbourne Track Classic

After an end of year break, Sean and Tim are back to discuss, assess and dissect the major themes of athletics across the state, nation and world.  

Although by definition the decade hasn’t technically ended, we do have a look at some major themes in athletics from 2010 through to 2019.  Plenty of positives and negatives to throw around and we’re not just talking drugs in sport!

After 15 years the Zatopek returned to Hagenauer Reserve in Box Hill, and what a meet it was!  Stewart McSweyn stole the show with an Australian 10,000m record but there was so much else that made this a meet that will be talked about for years to come.

Two meets in two states on one day may have ruffled some feathers, but there’s no doubt the Steigen Spectacular in Geelong and Albie Thomas Australian Mile Championship in Bankstown NSW both delivered excellent products.  Sean and Tim discuss the meets and what they contribute to the Australian athletics landscape.

Meanwhile Athletics Victoria and our clubs have been busy with a packed program including the Track Relays Championships, 5000m State Championships, more rounds of AVSL and the Athletics Essendon hosted Zatopek Graded 10000m races.

Sean enlightens us with his top five highlights in athletics over the past two months while Tim provides a quick review of the World Mountain Running Championships held in Argentina.

It’s a new year and the 2020’s have started, and so too has the athletic action.  Keep tuning in to Down the Track to stay on top of the news.


Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:00:58 Intro and welcome Sean to Episode 30
0:01:00 to 0:22:50 A decade in review – the Twenty Teens
0:22:51 to 0:37:58 Zatopek 2019
0:37:59 to 0:52:11 The Steigen Spectacular and Albie Thomas Mile
0:52:12 to 1:01:35 A wrap of Victorian events including the Track Relay Championships, Victorian 5000m Championships, an AVSL update and the Zatopek lower grades
0:58:11 to 1:18:30 Sean’s top 5 highlights from November & December 2019
1:18:31 to 1:22:58 World Mountain Running Championships
1:22:59 to 1:27:45 Episode wrap and what’s coming up

Lots to talk about once again as Sean & Tim digest all the action in the world of athletics.

Weekend 2 of the All Schools Championships once again provided some challenging conditions as the heavens opened up of the Saturday competition. Nonetheless the cream rose to the top and some great performances in trying conditions were recorded.

Day one of the World Para Athletics in Dubai provided Australia and Victoria with a big reason to celebrate as Jaryd Clifford took gold and claimed a new world record in the 1500m. Michael Roeger snared a silver in the 1500m to kick off a championship that holds plenty of promise for Team Australia.

A number of AV Specialist Groups have kicked off their seasons so we report in on the action from the Rare Air Club and Milers Club meets. Lisa Verstraten was trackside at Milers Club to grab interviews with Marlie Campton, Alex Rowe, Lucinda Rourke and Sam McEntee. The Race Walking Club also started their summer program at Middle Park with a range of distances on offer.

There are hot topics a plenty at the moment! Tim has delved into the current WADA banned list of athletes to come up with the top 10 nations – fortunately Australia is not there. With news coming through of the IOC move to shift the Out of Stadium Olympic events away from Tokyo to Sapporo, Sean discusses the reasons behind it and potential problems that may still face the organisers. And there are some disgruntled athletes in the Diamond League scene now that World Athletics have decided to dup a number of events from the 2020 program.

The New York marathon has been run and won, so Sean provides an update of the performances from both the International and Australian competitors.

So the anniversary edition of Down the Track is full of information, results and analysis from across the athletics spectrum.

Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:01:24 Intro and welcome Sean to Episode 29
0:01:25 to 0:20:23 All Schools weekend 2 wrap
0:20:24 to 0:26:21 World Para Athletics Championship update including gold to Jaryd Clifford and silver to Michael Roeger
0:26:22 to 0:28:56 Rare Air Club Meet 1
0:28:57 to 0:58:10 Victorian Milers Club Meet 1 including interviews with Marlie Campton, Alex Rowe, Lucinda Rourke & Sam McEntee  
0:58:11 to 0:59:10 ARWC Summer Walks
0:59:11 to 1:19:47 Hot Topics – who are the top 10 countries on the WADA banned athlete list? Sean also talks about the move of the Olympic Out of Stadium events to Sapporo and in a controversial move, World Athletics have dropped a number of events from the Diamond League program
1:19:48 to 1:20:43 Revvies update
1:20:44 to 1:31:27 New York Marathon discussion
1:31:28 to 1:33:53 What’s coming up
1:33:54 to 1:35:02 Episode 29 wrap

Dual Australian record holder Linden Hall joins Sean and Tim for another big episode of Down the Track.

October 9th is now officially Peter Norman day, and a big collection of dignitaries, athletics royalty and Peter’s family gathered at Lakeside Stadium for the unveiling of his statue which stands proudly outside Gate 1.  DTT caught up with Peter’s daughter Janita and we discuss the legacy of the man and change in attitudes over time that now see him as a figure globally honoured and respected.

It was with sadness that our sport recently lost John Higham. A multiple Australian champion, Commonwealth Games medallist and active administrator at local, state and national level, John was a large figure in the sport of athletics and will be greatly missed.

Recently returned from her campaign that culminated in the World Championship 1500m in Doha, Linden Hall chats about her season and provides great insight into the ups and downs of life on the athletic circuit.

After a busy few weeks that included a number of high profile events, there were  certainly plenty of results to chew over.  Domestically the Melbourne Marathon went to a new level setting an Australian record for marathon participation, with the Half Marathon, 10km and 5km also being sell out events.  On the same weekend Chicago played host to Brigid Kosgei’s world best in the marathon, taking a sizeable chunk off Paula Radcliffe’s previous world best set in 2003.

The INEOS Breaking 2 project attracted worldwide attention and conversation around this, Kosgei’s record, shoe technology and some wash up from the Nike Oregon Project form the basis of our hot topics.

AVSL is now three rounds down so we look into the ladders and highlight some individual performances of note.

For all the latest in the world of Athletics Victoria, tune in to Down the Track.

Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:01:20 Intro and welcome Sean and Linden to Episode 28
0:01:21 to 0:10:05 Unveiling of the Peter Norman Statue and vale John Higham
0:10:06 to 0:38:37 Spotlight on Linden Hall
0:38:38 to 1:01:05 Results wrap – Melbourne Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Toronto Marathon and the APS finals.
1:01:06 to 1:12:48 Hot Topics
1:12:49 to 1:25:16 AVSL wrap of team ladders and standout individual performances from the first three rounds.  We also go through the events coming up in Victoria
1:25:17 to 1:27:37 Episode wrap

Sean returns from his trip to Doha and joins Tim for a general conversation on what proved to be an interesting World Championships on a number of fronts. With an insider's view of the many facets of Doha 2019, Sean provides some great insight on the championships.

In other results Max Ueda and Bec Beagley took wins in the Victorian Trail Running Championships at Lysterfield Lake and they both speak to DTT about the event and what they are up to. Meanwhile Kenenisa Bekele narrowly missed the World Marathon best time on the roads of Berlin. And in a surprise result DTT’s very own Nick Earl took the scalp of a 2:07 marathon runner on his way to victory in the Brussels Half Marathon.

DTT are pleased to welcome Revvies Energy Strips on board as a sponsor and we reveal the great deal they have for listeners.

During the World Championships the Alberto Salazar bombshell dropped. Sean and Tim have a frank discussion on what it means and how various key players may be impacted.

Also during the World Championships an Australian bombshell dropped with Athletics Australia and Little Athletics Australia signing a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at delivering One Sport.  Athletics Victoria President Allison Robison joins us to talk about this major step forward in our sport.

Gorgeous Melbourne Spring conditions welcomed athletes to AVSL Rd 1 at Nunawading and Aberfeldie. Lots of competitors took the opportunity to experience the new competition model and the feedback was generally positive.

October 13th will see two marathons of interest being run – locally it’s the Melbourne Marathon which is on target to be the largest marathon ever staged in Australia. Halfway around the world, Lisa Weightman will take to the streets of Chicago for a much anticipated first shot at Olympic qualification. Lisa speaks to DTT about her stellar year and the preparation for what will be a pivotal race in her career.

Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:01:26 Intro and welcome to Episode 27
0:01:27 to 0:25:11 Doha 19 wrap
0:30:40 to 0:42:52 Other results including the Victorian Trail Running Championships, the Berlin Marathon and Nick Earl’s Half Marathon in Belgium
0:42:53 to 0:44:23 Revvies Energy Strips comes on board as a Podcast sponsor
0:44:24 to 1:06:11 The Salazar debate
1:06:12 to 1:35:25 Athletics Victoria President Allison Robison joins the podcast to talk all things One Sport
1:35:26 to 1:38:42 AVSL commences
1:38:43 to 1:54:16 Lisa Weightman talks to us about the Chicago Marathon and we preview the Melbourne Marathon
1:54:17 to 1:56:36 Episode wrap and a discussion about the newly formed club in Shepparton

The dulcet tones of Hamish Beaumont are welcomed into the Down the Track studio once again to talk all things athletics. 

Episode 26 leads off with a summary of the three Australian Championships conducted on Sunday 15th September - the Marathon in Sydney, the Road Racing in Adelaide and Mountain Running in Brisbane. Some great performances once again from our Victorian contingent with Lisa Weightman (Road) and Simone Brick (Mountains) being crowned Australian Champions. 

XCR’19 came to an exciting conclusion with Rd.10 at the Tan Track. St Stephens Harriers maintained their year long consistency to take out the Men’s Premier Division, while we had to wait until the final runners crossed the line in the Women’s race to award the Collingwood Harriers their first Premier Division team title. We also cover the huge battle in Men’s Division 2 between APS United and the Bendigo Region. 

With the INEOS Sub 2 challenge not far away, Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor grabbed his moment of glory in the lead up by establishing a new World’s best time for the Half Marathon in Copenhagen. Hamish and Tim contemplate a Kamworor v Eliud Kipchopge showdown over the marathon distance. Ash Watson did some record breaking of his own, this time over the trails and beaches of the Surf Coast where he won the 100km event in under 8hrs. 

With AV Shield not far away, discussion turns to the new AVSL concept and how it will hopefully change up team based track and field athletics across Victoria. 

Some additional athletes have been added to the Australian team bound for Doha and we also look forward to the Victorian Trail Running Championships and Melbourne Marathon Festival. 

We wrap the episode with our first bloopers out take, so hang on to the bitter end for an amusing conclusion to the podcast. 

So sit back and enjoy another edition of Australia’s leading athletic podcast – Down the Track. Brought to you by Revvies.

Timeline 

0:00:00 to 0:01:11 Intro and we welcome Hamish Beaumont to Episode 26 

0:01:12 to 0:19:14 Wrap of the three Australians Championships in one day – the Marathon in Sydney, the Road Racing in Adelaide and Mountain Running in Brisbane. 

0:19:15 to 0:49:00 The wash up from the XCR’19 Tan Relays with the individual top results, team results and Premiership deciders. We interview Eleanor Benson (MUAC), Tom Thorpe (SSH), Jordan Williamsz (APS), Amy Robinson (COL) and Nick Bowden (SSH) 

0:49:01 to 0:58:18 A round up of other results including Geoffrey Kamworor’s World Half Marathon best time in Copenhagen and Ash Watson smashing records at the Surf Coast Century 100km 

0:58:19 to 1:01:15 Hot topics – AVSL arrives 

1:01:16 to 1:05:03 Additions to the Australian World Championships team for Doha 

1:05:04 to 1:11:30 What’s coming up including the Victorian Trail Running Championships, AV Shield and the Melbourne Marathon Festival. 

1:11:31 to 1:14:15 Down the Track’s first bloopers out take and a welcome to Revvies who will be supporting the podcast

We're back for another big Episode of Down the Track, with special guest Rhydian Cowley. In this episode we go through the World Champs team announcement, results from the Burnley Half Marathon, plus other local and international results and hot topics. We've also got special guest interviews from Rebecca Beagley, Kiah Fry, Liam Adams, Ryan Geard and Sharon Firisua.

The world of athletics never stops!

With so much Australian activity on the European circuit, Sean and Tim review the late August results from places as diverse as Cork in Ireland through to Schifflange in Luxembourg. The clock is ticking towards the Doha cut off so which Australians are booking their spots on the World Championship team?

Kembla Grange played host to the 2019 Australian Cross Country Championships, so for the most complete review of all the Junior and Senior action listen in to Tim & Sean’s first hand insights to a great day of racing. Once again the DTT voice recorder was working overtime to bring a range of interviews from some event winners and notable Victorian performers. 

With the world’s fastest man (allegedly) missing three tests, the Hot Topics kick off with Christian Coleman before Ato Bolden coming into the less than salubrious spotlight. David Rudisha survived a rather nasty road accident on his way home to Kilgoris in Kenya and we discuss where his athletics career may be headed. Tim puts the Twitter account of Percy Cerutty under the spotlight and Sean rounds out the hot topics with a look at the Chicago Marathon fields featuring our own Lisa Weightman. 

The DeCastella run and NSW State Half Marathon Championship results are discussed then we look forward to some big events coming up including the Burnley Half Marathon, Australian Marathon Championships in Sydney, Australian Road Racing Championships in Adelaide and Australian Mountain Running Championships in Brisbane. 

The athletics action never stops… 

Timeline 

0:00:00 to 0:01:11 – Intro and welcome to Episode 24 

0:01:12 to 0:30:39 – International wrap including Diamond League action and a number of other Australian performances in Europe 

0:30:40 to 1:45:37 – A comprehensive review of the 2019 Australian Cross Country Championships featuring interviews with Lucinda Rourke, Jhye Hadfield, Ashton MacDonald, Jaylah Hancock-Cameron, Aidan Roberts, Sam Clifford, Juliet McBurney, Ed Marks, David McNeill, Andrew Buchanan, Emily Brichacek, Kiah Fry and Peter Schuwalow 

1:45:38 to 1:53:55 – Discussion on some statistical elements of the Australian Cross Country 

1:49:25 to 1:59:22 – Domestic results including the DeCastella Run and ANSW Half Marathon 

1:59:23 to 2:13:58 – Hot topics – Christian Coleman, David Rudisha, Percy Cerutty and the Chicago Marathon field 

2:13:59 to 2:19:40 – What’s coming up including the Burnley Half Marathon and our super Australian Championship weekend – the Marathon Champs in Sydney, Road Champs in Adelaide and Mountain Champs in Brisbane

 Tim and Sean are back for another riveting episode of Down the Track. The in-studio guest is Maxine Paholek, back in Australia on break from Boise State University where as a Freshman she established herself as a key member of the Bronco’s NCAA Cross Country and Track squads.

Maxine provides great insight into her experience so far in the NCAA system, and adapting to life in general as a US College student. With some great performances over the cross country season then recording a substantial PB in her specialist track event the 3000m Steeple, Maxine talks us through how she approached each season and the usual highs and lows along the way.

In international news the Australian performances in Europe continue with Ninove (Belgium) and Bern (Switzerland) playing hos to a number of Australians including Ryan & Genevieve Gregson, Michelle Jenneke, James Hansen and Nick Hough. Heidi See popped out a 4:33 mile in the USA, while Georgia Winkcup continued her strong progression in the steeple with a World Championship qualifier in Birmingham.

Domestically we had the Australian Half Marathon Championship on the Sunshine Coast with Lisa Weightman highlighting the stellar field to collect a $25,000 bonus by running the fastest Half Marathon on Australian soil. An unfortunate directional error by the officials lead to Jack Rayner being DQ’d, allowing Kevin Batt to claim the Australian title.
 

The world’s biggest timed fun run, Sydney’s City to Surf, saw Victorian based Harry Summers almost claim Steve Moneghetti’s long standing race record, falling just 2sec shy of the mark. South Australian Tara Palm continued on from her impressive Run at Adelaide’s Fitzy’s 5 to claim the women’s title in the Harbour City.
 

Athletics Victoria’s General Manager of Sport Delivery, Ross Cunningham, joins the Podcast to talk about the upcoming Summer season. With some new initiatives, including the introduction of the Athletics Victoria Shield League, Ross details what participants can expect from the new season.
 

With Sally Pearson announcing her retirement, the team examine her legacy to the sport and potential gaps that may now appear within the Australian team environment at the major championships. In a recurring hot topic, more issues have been raised about Nike shoe technology, this time the spikes used by Sifan Hassan to break the World Mile record.
 

With the Australian Cross Country Championship not far away, Sean and Tim review the main contenders based on who they believe to be running and assess Victoria’s chances to win the women’s and men’s team titles.
 

The world of athletics never stops!

Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:01:12 Intro and welcome to Maxine Paholek
0:01:13 to 0:17:54 International wrap including Ninove in Belgium and Bern in Switzerland
0:17:55 to 1:00:09 Spotlight on Maxine Paholek
1:00:10 to 1:20:14 Domestic results including the Australian Half Marathon Championship and Sydney’s City to Surf
1:20:15 to 1:49:24 AV’s Ross Cunnigham details what to expect from the upcoming AV Summer season including the introduction of the Athletics Victoria Shield League
1:49:25 to 2:09:39 In the hot topics we cover Sally Pearson’s retirement and the continuing saga of Nike shoe technology
2:09:40 to 2:20:42 We wrap the Podcast with a preview of the Australian Cross Country Championship
 

After successfully navigating the highways and byways of continental Europe, a tanned but not so fit Sean Whipp re-joins the Down the Track team for Episode 22.  Joining Sean and Tim in the DTT hot seat is Hamish Beaumont – a man who needs no introduction.

The episode kicks off with Sean enlightening us on his European tour as an athlete manager, culminating in Catriona Bisset’s record breaking 800m performance at the London Diamond League.  Sean also reflects on the World University Games in Naples before moving on to an in depth analysis of the Australian performances in London.

XCR’19 moved to balmy Ballarat in the depths of winter, where unseasonal conditions provided a great opportunity for runners to post fast 15km & 6km times around the Lake Wendouree circuit.  DTT caught up with race winners Kiah Fry and Andrew Buchanan to discuss their runs.

And as we move to the latter stages of XCR’19, Hamish delivers an honest assessment of the various Premiership and relegation battles across the divisions. Athletics Victoria CEO Glenn Turnor also provides some comment and thoughts on the XCR series by way of an interview recorded immediately after the Lake Wendouree race.

Lisa Weightman lit up the Australian running scene in Sydney last weekend by running a World Record for an 40 year old over the classic 10km road race distance.  Lisa’s time of 31:55 was a PB for the three time Olympian who is looking toward Tokyo to join a very elite group of four time Olympians in athletics.  We hear from Lisa about her run and the next phase of her preparation.

Joining Lisa as a World Record breaker, Steve Moneghetti ran a big race on his home circuit to take the World 55 to 59 record for the 15km.  Mona joins DTT for a quick chat about the Lake Wendouree event. In another feature interview we catch up with Sam Rizzo, the Ballarat based wheelie who under the guidance of Richard Colman has his sights set firmly on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.  We round out the feature interviews by catching up with Nick Earl at the Tasmanian Cross Country Championships at Pontville.  Nick agonizes over being beaten by someone half his age and having heckling directed at him from across Bass Strait by Hamish Beaumont.

In the Hot Topics Sean, Tim and Hamish tackle the issues around Shayna Jack and the current crisis Swimming Australia now face, while the Caster Semenya case continues to attract headlines, this time due to the fact she will not be competing in the upcoming World Championships.

So that’s Episode 22 – the best 3hrs of listening you’ll get this week!

0:00:00 to 0:01:19 – Intro and welcome to co-hosts Sean Whipp and Hamish Beaumont

0:01:20 to 0:35:37 – The European wrap and insights from Sean on his European tour

0:35:38 to 0:53:34 – Review of XCR’19 round 7 at Lake Wendouree in Ballarat. (Includes interviews with Andrew Buchanan and Kiah Fry)

0:53:55 to 1:48:06 – Analysis of XCR’19 including the ladder battles and views on some of the trends being experienced this season. Glenn Turnor from Athletics Victoria is also interviewed about XCR

1:48:07 to 2:00:01 – In other results Lisa Weightman breaks the World Over 40 10k road running record in Sydney and we hear from her about the run.  We also cover Liam Adams and Charlotte Wilson as they tackle the Westlink Marathon is Western Sydney.

2:00:02 to 2:21:51 – Feature interviews with Steve Moneghetti, Sam Rizzo and Nick Earl 

2:21:52 to 2:38:57– Hot topics – Shayna Jack’s positive drugs test, the Caster Semenya story and changes to the Victorian Cross Team for Kembla Grange

2:38:58 to 2:50:17 – Upcoming events including the Australian Half Marathon Champs, XCR at Cruden Farm, the Australian Mountain Running Championships and Victorian Trail Running Championships

Episode wrap and preview of Episode 23

The World University Games dominates Episode 21 with Nick Wall joining Tim to discuss the competition, the results and what it means to Australian athletics.

Finishing third on the medal table with a record tally of 10 medals, the games were certainly viewed as a successful one for Team Australia. Thanks to Rob Cumbrae-Stewart from Athletics Australia, we have several great interviews lined up, including many of our medallists who provide insight into their games’ experiences.

Stewart McSweyn propelled himself to second on the Australian All-Time list for 1500m with a great run to finish eighth at the Monaco Diamond League. Nicola McDermott also performed well by placing third in the High Jump in a meet that produced 10 national records, 5 world leads, 4 meet records and a World Record.

The Lakeside:10 once again produced the highest quality field for an Australian 10km road race.  With 14 sub 30min performances and over half the field going under 40mins, our local 10k finishing in Lakeside Stadium stamps itself as the quickest in the country, even in conditions that were less than perfect.

Nick and Tim discuss the results and compare the event to other major 10k races in Australia.  Feature interviews with the race winners Whitney Sharpe and Harry Summers are included.

The Pacific Games are currently underway in Samoa and Nick reviews the results to date. There is also plenty happening in Europe with Kelsey-Lee Barber and Catriona Bissett having good wins on the circuit.

It takes a while for the boys to wind up into a Hot Topic, but the disgrace that is Athletics Kenya gets a mention, particularly given they are still at this stage the host nation for the next World Juniors.  Some strong views are expressed and a recent drug bust has particular relevance to our flagship event, the Zatopek.

So plenty of news, analysis and informed commentary in another big week of athletics.

Timeline

0:00:00 to 0:01:03 Intro and welcome to co-host Nick Wall

0:01:04 to 0:04:20 Catch up with Nick Wall

0:04:21 to 0:41:15 General discussion and overview of the World University Games. Feature interviews with medallists Matt Denny, Katie Heyward & Jemima Montag, Catriona Bissett, Darcy Roper, Georgia Griffith, Alec Diamond, and the Women’s 4 x 400m team.

0:41:16 to 0:59:50 Further coverage from the World University Games including interviews  with Tori West, Lizzie Hedding, Riley Cocks & Lachlan Cook, and Bri Illarda  

1:00:15 to 1:13:33 Monaco Diamond League wrap

1:13:34 to 1:38:20 Full coverage of the Lakeside:10 including interviews with Whitney Sharpe & Harry Summers

1:38:21 to 1:50:25 Other results including the Pacific Games, Kelsey Lee-Barber’s big throw, Catriona Bissett continues her winning run and Nick talks all things Downunder Games

1:50:26 to 2:00:55 Upcoming coaching courses and the Lake Wendouree Road Race. In hot topics, Tim and Nick talk about more issues in Kenya and the selection process for the World Half Marathon Championships in March

2:00:56 to 2:03:06 Episode wrap and a preview of Episode 22

 The recent Oceania Track & Field Championships in Townsville are the central theme for Episode 20 of DTT.
 

With Sean Whipp enduring the European heatwave on a diet of pasta and chianti, Tim is joined in studio by Lisa Verstraten as co-host. And in the guest’s chair we are very pleased to have Oceania Athletics Council member Matt Mahon to provide the inside word on the Championships from the organiser’s perspective.
 

The episode kicks off with the announcement of the very strong Victorian open teams taking part in the Australian Half Marathon Championship on the Sunshine Coast and the Australian Cross Country Championships in Wollongong – both competitions taking place in August.
 

Discussion turns to the Oceania Championships with Matt providing some great insight into the organisation, the event and the bearing these Championships now have on athletics in Australia and across the region.
 

The first part of our results wrap focusses on the Sprints/Hurdles, Jumps and Para events and includes interviews with Eddie Nketia, Jack Hale, Naa Anang, Mietta Russell, Brooke Stratton, Chad Perris and Marty Jackson.
 

Stage two of the results wrap looks at the Middle & Long Distance, Throws & Walks with interviews from Matt Ramsden, Ben Buckingham, Melissa Duncan, Paige Campbell, Damien Birkenhead, Benjamin Voogd, Kelsey- Lee Barber, Isobella Simonelli and Jemima Montag.
 

With so much great interview coverage from the Oceania Championships, we’ve edited six feature interviews that go into greater detail or provide a story we believe is worth retelling. These interviews are with Elizaveta Parnova, Kelsey-Lee Barber, Matt Ramsden, Brooke Stratton, Naa Anang and Harry Summers.
 

Meanwhile in Victoria the XCR competition continues on it’s merry way and we provide coverage of the recent relay events… the Ekiden in Anglesea and the Road Relays at Sandown.
 

Rosie Donegan leads off the other results segment with her tremendous Steeplechase effort in the US that places as the Australian lead for 2019 and in the box seat for a trip to Doha later in the year. We also go through the results from the various races conducted on the Gold Coast over the weekend.
 

Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:01:41 Intro and welcome to Lisa Verstraten and Matt Mahon
0:01:42 to 0:08:45 Victorian Team Announcements – Australian Half Marathon & Australian Cross Country Championships
0:08:46 to 0:29:20 General discussion and overview of the Oceania Championships
0:29:40 to 1:00:46 Oceania results part 1 – Sprints & Hurdles, Jumps & Paras.
1:00:47 to 1:47:08 Oceania results part 2 – Middle Distance & Distance, Throws & Walks
1:47:09 to 2:15:34 Feature interviews with Elizaveta Parnova, Kelsey-Lee Barber, Matt Ramsden, Brooke Stratton, Naa Anang & Harry Summers
2:15:35 to 2:27:40 XCR coverage including the recent events at Anglesea and Sandown
2:27:41 to 2:47:49 Other results including Rosie Donegan’s breakthrough steeple to qualify for the Doha World Champs and a summary of the Gold Coast Marathon events
2:47:50 to 2:51:20 What’s coming up and episode wrap 

Down the Track - Episode 19
 

Jaryd Clifford joins Sean & Tim for Episode 19 of Down the Track. Jaryd opens up about his career in athletics, the important influences in his career and future plans.
 

Ben Buckingham produced a big result in Europe, so Sean provides an overview of this and other performances from across the world.
 

A number of hot topics provide Sean with plenty to talk about. The Caster Semenya case is back in the courts and the saga that is the Russian athletics drug scandal just continues to provide great fodder for DTT! Former Victorian middle distance runner, James Whelan, has transitioned nicely to pro cycling and has just signed for Education First -Drapac team in Europe. And in a very good news story, Sean & Tim discuss the historically high number of Australian women who have broken 16min for 5000m.

All the action from the All Schools and XCR races at Bundoora is discussed with interviews from Abbey Caldwell, Luca Di Conza, Ellie Pashley and Harry Summers providing insight into their races.
 

Lisa Verstraten was busy at Bundoora and caught up with Dave McNeill for a nice long interview, while the extended cuts of her chats with Ellie and Harry are also aired.
 

Canberra hosted the race walkers for the annual Lake Burley Griffin competition over the Queens Birthday long weekend so these results plus the Melbourne Throws meet and Big Backyard Ultra are discussed.

Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:01:14 Intro and welcome to Jaryd Clifford
0:01:15 to 0:19:44 International wrap including Ben Buckingham’s breakthrough Steeplechase run in Europe
0:19:45 to 0:50:11 Spotlight on Jaryd Clifford
0:50:11 to 1:13:13 Hot Topics – Sean provides an update on the legal manoeuvring’s of the Caster Semenya case, more developments on the dirty Russians and their drug culture plus we chat about former Old Xavs runner James Whelan who has signed with professional cycling team Education First – Drapac.  And looking through the rankings Sean & Tim discuss the best all time depth in the women’s 5000m.
1:13:14 to 1:43:55 Bundoora Cross Country wrap including interviews with Abbey Caldwell, Luca Di Conza, Ellie Pashley & Harry Summers
1:43:56 to 2:04:43 Extended interviews with Dave McNeill, Ellie Pashley & Harry Summers
2:04:44 to 2:13:40 Other results including the Lake Burley Griffin Walks competition in Canberra, the Melbourne Throws meet and the Big Backyard Ultra
2:13:41 to 2:23:50 What’s coming up and Episode 19 wrap – the Anglesea Ekiden, Oceania Championships and a number of Coaching courses.

For Episode 18 Sean and Tim are joined by one of Australia’s leading sprinters, Nana Adoma Owusu-Afriyie. Nana is not long back from the World Relays in Yokohama and a blistering performance over 200m at the Osaka World Challenge meet.
 

Nana discusses her career to date, plans for the short to medium term and touches on the long lasting coaching relationship with Tony Marsh.
 

Also in the episode Sean provides and update on what’s been happening across the globe in athletics while on the domestic front the XCR season is now well underway.
 

With not one but two hot topics to discuss, Sean and Tim delve into why it is so hard for elite Australian athletes to stay in the sport, or stay aligned to our country and some very questionable selection practices recently beg the question are the Australian selectors still up for the job?
 

Feature interviews include Craig Mottram about his involvement in developing young athletes and life post competition in general, plus we caught up with 100m sprinter Antonio Vaitohi just after he’d finished his 4km cross country leg at Jells Park.
 

Out on the cross country circuit DTT has been fortunate to also catch up with Pole Vaulter Cassidy Bradshaw and we also had a chat to Emily Guy after her big long run at Wings for Life in early May.
 

A very excited Nick Earl has been selected as part of a marathon development squad for England athletics and will slip the English vest on in Toronto later this year. DTT spoke to Nick about his recent move to Tasmania and what it means to be running for England. Joel Tobin-White and Alexandra Patterson both recorded wins at the 8km Cross Country at St Annes so their post race interviews wrap up the coverage from XCR Rd 2.

Timeline 

0:00:00 to 0:01:00 Intro and welcome to Nana Adoma Owusu-Afriyie
0:01:01 to 0:30:49 International wrap including the World Relays, Diamond League meets, Gotsis Multis and various other European and Japanese results
0:30:50 to 0:55:32 Spotlight on Nana Adoma Owusu-Afriyie
0:55:33 to 1:07:49 Hot Topic – Trae Williams to Rugby 7’s, Eddie Nketia to New Zealand, Jordan Gusman possibly to Malta and big question marks over Sasha Zhoya’s future. What if anything are Athletics Australia doing, or can do to retain athletes?
1:07:50 to 1:13:02 Feature interview with Antonio Vaitohi
1:13:03 to 1:22:02 Feature interview with Craig Mottram
1:22:03 to 1:43:20 XCR coverage including the recent event at St Annes Vineyard in Myrniong
1:43:21 to 1:49:02 Hot Topic – late changes to selection windows, athletes selected then de-selected, non certified courses used for selection. What’s going on with the Australian selectors?
1:49:03 to 1:57:38 Other results including the SMH Half Maarthon, Leonora Mile and Christchurch Marathon
1:57:39 to 2:01:40 What’s coming up and episode wrap

Some great Australian results overseas at the Payton Jordan and DOHA Diamond League meets in recent weeks. Ellie Pashley nailed the 10000m World Championships qualifying time in the US Meet, while Jordan Gusman gained automatic selection in the 5000m at the same meet, if he chooses to take it.
 

Brooke Stratton reclaimed some good form with a close third place in the Long Jump at Doha, leading up until the 5th attempt while Ryan Gregson posted a World Championships qualifier in the 1500m.
 

In local news we wrap up the results from the Great Train Race, Nail Can Hill Run in Albury, Wings for Life Melbourne World Run and cover the VRWC Walks event at Albert Park. The Sydney:10 proved once again to be the showcase event for Athletics NSW, with Ben St Lawrence and Emily Brichacek recording strong wins over the 10km Homebush course. Tim also comments on a new concept event from South Australia, the Flinders Twilight Cross Country.
 

XCR’19 kicked off in fine, if rather damp, form at Jells Park with a large turn out providing plenty to talk about. St Stephens took out Men’s Premier Division, with the Know Men in Division Two recording the second fastest team time of the day. Melbourne University wheeled out their track runners to take a win in the Women’s Premier Division, with a resurgent Collingwood Harriers not too far adrift. AV CEO leads the interview list from Jells with Jack Davies, Liam Adams, James Coleman, Matt Johnson, Ciara Boyd-Squires-Long, Kelly Hetherington James Atkinson and Stu Macaulay all taking time to be grilled by the AV interview team.
 

In a couple of feature interview from Jells Part we speak to Virginia McCormick (nee Moloney) about her comeback post Comm Games and wedding and also talk to Stewy McSweyn about what he plans for 2019.
 

Tim made another planning visit to Bathurst as part of the organisation of the 2021 World Cross Country Championship and provides an update on how things are tracking. Also in Bathurst was Len Johnson… athlete, reporter & athletics columnist so Tim takes time to talk to Len about the World Cross Country and his observations of the competition over time.
 

Sean follows up on developments in the Caster Semenya case and also touches on the INEOS Sub 2 Marathon attempt, with Eliud Kipchoge planning to break the barrier in London later in 2019. Raelene Boyle’s recent recognition as the legitimate Olympic Gold medallist, without being given the medals, is also discussed as part of the hot topics segment.
 

Plenty to talk about in Episode 17…

Timeline

0:00:00 to 0:00:58 – Intro

0:00:59 to 0:32:51 – Payton Jordan and Doha Diamond League wrap

0:32:52 to 0:46:30 – Local & interstate results including the Great Train Race, Nail   Can Hill, VRWC Albert Park, Wings for Life, Sydney:10 & Flinders Twilight  XC

0:46:31 to 1:24:54 – XCR’19 Rd 1 – Jells Park

1:24:55 to 1:36:43 – Feature interviews with Virginia McCormick and Stewart McSweyn

1:36:44 to 1:57:42 – Bathurst 2021 update including an interview with Len Johnson

1:57:43 to 2:12:23 – Hot topics – Caster Semenya update, the INEOS Sun 2 attempt and Raelene Boyle

2:12:24 to 2:16:45 – Episode wrap

The London Marathon proved a happy hunting ground for Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei, but the Australian contingent were not to be outdone. Sean and Tim discuss how the Victorians fared in London and well as providing an overview of the event itself and some interesting side conversations on biological passports and the next iteration of Nike’s racing shoe.
 

Catriona Bisset was the star performer at the Australian University T&F Championships, dipping under the 2min 800m barrier for the first time. Sean outlines what’s ahead for Catriona and the impact her rise to prominence has had on her life. Other results are discussed, including Georgia Griffith and Georgia Hansen’s 1-2 in the Women’s 1500m
 

As expected the Stawell Gift provided plenty of excitement and a review of the results talks about the great wins by Alexia Loizou and Dhruv Rodrigues Chico in the gifts.
 

Tim took a trip to Darwin for the Arafura Games and gives an overview of the event that includes interviews with Caitlyn Sharp, Erika Gosney and Jaryd Clifford.
 

XCR kicks off this Saturday so the focus at AV changes from the track to the fields of Jells Park for the traditional opening round – the Cross Country relays over 6k or 3k.
 

In the hot topics Sean and Tim discuss the Caster Semenya decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport – a compelling listen if you want a balanced view of the verdict. Tim also laments the loss of a couple of high profile road races this year and the announcement from Jess Trengove and Dylan Stenson that they are expecting a child has been warmly received across the athletics family.
 

The podcast wraps up with the Australian Team announcements for the World Relays in Yokohama, the Oceania Championships in Townsville and the Global Games in Brisbane.
 

The athletics excitement continues…

Timeline
0:00:00 to 0:01:22 Intro
0:01:23 to 0:23:05 London Marathon recap
0:23:06 to 0:40: 15 Australian University Championships & Hamburg Marathon results
0:40:16 to 0:50:55 Stawell Gift wrap up
0:55:56 to 1:12:28 Arafura Games and Interviews with Caitlyn Sharp, Erika Gosney & Jaryd Clifford
1:12:29 to 1:17:44 XCR Preview
1:17:45 to 1:31:47 Hot topics: Caster Semenya, some road races may disappear, baby news for Jess Trengove and Dylan Stenson
1:31:48 to 1:39:32 Australian team announcements
1:39:33 to 1:43:38 Episode wrap

 

Down the Track - Episode 15

The Easter long weekend means just one thing for athletics fans across the country – the time honoured tradition and action of the Stawell Gift. 

The regional city of Stawell once again plays host to the drama, intrigue and pure athleticism of the pinnacle event in the professional running circuit and with all roads leading to Stawell, DTT gets down amongst the action.

Tim is joined by Arron Downes to provide a glimpse into the world of pro running, explaining such terms as Backmarkers, Frontmarkers, Restricted races and Open Gifts before going through the major events on offer one by one.   

Whether you’re into the pro scene or not, with names like Wells, Coates, Despard and Romanin joined by Rodrigues Chico, Lugo and Carter and Forsyth there is certain to be plenty of interest throughout the weekend.   

DTT also interviews VAL CEO (and 2010 Stawell Gift winner) Tom Burbidge for his insight into the week ahead and what may be in store for those who go in with high expectations for a Gift win.

Once again DTT leads the way with all the latest in Victorian athletics. 

Another massive Episode of DTT as Sean and Tim dissect the action from the 2019 Australian Track & Field Championships.

With 23 interviews across the majority of events DTT listeners will get to hear how the Championships played out from the perspective of the athletes themselves.  Raw emotions come to the fore – the elation of winning,  handling defeat and the moment it sinks in you’re a Australian Champion.

DTT also delves into some of the more controversial moments of the Championship including the last minute call to scrap the semi finals in the Men’s 800m – confusion reigned and hopefully some lessons learned.

Interviewed athletes include:

• Maddie Coates
• Steve Solomon
• Celeste Mucci
• Ellen Pettitt
• Henry Smith
• Chris Mitrevski
• Matt Ramsden
• Luke Mathews
• Madeleine Murray
• Peter Bol
• Joseph Deng
• Georgia Griffiths
• Catriona Bissett
• Marty Jackson
• Kirstie Newcombe
• Daniel Milone
• Cassidy Bradshaw
• Fraser Symons
• Ed Marks
• Morgan Mitchell

Timeline

0:00:00 to 0:02:00    Intro

0:02:00 to 0:32:40    Open Sprints

0:32:41 to 0:44:40    Celeste Mucci

0:44:41 to 0:51:40    Open Hurdles

0:51:41    to 1:13:02    Open Jumps & Mens Decathlon

1:13:03 to 1:43:25    Open Middle Distance

1:43:26 to 1:58:57    Catriona Bissett and the Women’s Open 800m

1:58:58 to 2:09:00    Open Throws

2:09:01 to 2:17:50    Para coverage and interviews

2:17:51 to 2:36:35    Junior coverage and interviews

2:36:36 to 2:46:55    The final word from Morgan Mitchell, Luke Mathews and Catriona Bissett

2:46:56 to 2:51:30    Other results from overseas and Australia

In what was heralded as a ground breaking move for the discipline, the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships were staged in the grounds of a museum in the Danish town of Aarhus.

With mud, water, sand and a horde of Vikings this was billed as a new era for the historic Cross Country Championship which had seen declining interest, particularly in Europe in recent years.

DTT’s roving reporter Lisa Verstraten was on hand in Aarhus to provide a number of pre and post races interviews with Team Australia, capturing the nerves, anticipation, excitement and elation of the event.

DTT also gives the inside scoop on the initial planning phase for the next World Cross Country – Bathurst 2021.  So listen in for what’s planned for the next major championship to come to Australia.

Time Line

00:00 to 01:00        Intro

01:01 to 15:34        World Cross Country overview and Junior Women’s Race

15:35 to 28:40        Junior Men’s Race

28:41 to 45:25        Senior Women’s Race

45:26 to 1:01:40     Senior Men’s Race

1:01:41 to 1:12:30  Bathurst 2021 inside scoop

1:12:31 to 1:17:25  Episode wrap and preview of Episode 14

A great start to weekend two of the 2019 Coles Victorian Open and Junior Track & Field Championships, with Swede Perseus Karlstrom recording an Australian All Comers record of 18:32.56 in the 5000m Walk, breaking the Swedish 3000m and 5000m records at the same time.  It was great to hear from Perseus about his training and racing plans and the importance of his visits to Australia.

Rhydian Cowley scored his 7th  Victorian title in the Walk joining Chris Erickson, who finished second, with seven wins.  Jemima Montag was also impressive taking her second successive Walk title and she talks to Down the Track about her international plans coming up.

We had steeplechase victories for Reilly Shaw and Charlotte Wilson and hear from them about their races.

Para athletes Marty Jackson, Maria Strong, Richard Colman and Sam Rizzo took time to speak to Down the Track and it was great to get insight into their training and racing plans.

In the field we hear from Shot Putter Matthew Cowie and how good was it to see Ned Weatherly step back into the circle after a year out.  Ned lets us in on his career plans and how this will work in with is athletic pursuits.

There was high action in the 400m Hurdles with Stephanie Larkin recording a come from behind victory as Ashleigh Palmer smashed into the last hurdle.  We hear from both girls in some candid interviews immediately after the race.

Sean identifies some standout performances in the juniors and we hear from 5000m winners Ed Marks and Olivia Hobbs.  Heptathlete Shannon Fraser had a busy few weeks in the individual events and she shares her story with us.  Tim and Sean also focus on the negative impacts of over training in junior females and the long term effects this may have.

Overseas Ellie Pashley opened her Tokyo 2020 campaign with a huge PB of 2:26.21 in the Nagoya Marathon, moving to 12th on the Australian All Time list.  On the same weekend her coach Julian Spence may have sealed selection for the Doha World Championships, running 2:14:42 at the Lake Biwa Marathon.  Could we have a coach and athlete selected for the same event at the same championship?

Joining Spence in Lake Biwa was Nick Earl who finished just 4secs ahead in 2:14:38.  Still a UK citizen Earl is unlikely to go to Doha as he won’t be running the British trial race in London.  We also look at the Warburton Trail Running Festival where Victorian Half Marathon Champ Jayne Grebinski sets a new course record, joined on top of the podium by Box Hill’s John Dutton, also in a record time.

Yet again another big week in Athletics!