Hartmann reveals his comeback from Olympic hiccup after clinching record equalling title

Australian 200m sprint champion Alex Hartmann may have a record in the same stratosphere as the great Peter Norman, but Norman is still on a pedestal according to Hartmann.

Australian 200m sprint champion Alex Hartmann may have a record in the same stratosphere as the great Peter Norman, but Norman is still on a pedestal according to Hartmann.

Last weekend the Aspley product equalled the five season winning streak of the late Norman at the track and field nationals.

It is a huge milestone for a man who, 18 months earlier, was uncertain if he would continue in the sport after coming offa disappointing Rio Olympics.

Hartmann was not on his own at the time, with many Australian athletes in a variety of sports performing below expectation at the Games. But that was of little comfort to Hartmann.

“After Rio I was a bit of a head case, it was hard to get over it and get back and compete properly,’’ he said.

Alex Hartmann.

“I did not compete as well as I wanted (in Rio). It played with my head a bit and I wondered was it worth continuing.’’

But a huge part of Hartmann’s success over the years has been due to his support staff and they again came to the fore.

“I spoke to the right people. Everyone was fantastic. They were all in my corner.

“You need experienced people in your corner..’’

He said that support staff, “a great coach, great systems’’ and his training environment where “we push each other to get better’’ all helped in his fightback which led to his 200m success last weekend.

More coverage of the championships

Hartmann said it was an honour to be mentioned in the same breath as Norman who holds a “special place’’ in Australian athletics history.

“To match that record is fantastic,’’ he said.

There were other local medallists at the title.

Nikita Moore flies halfway around the world to win gold medal

Wavell SHS’s Bridget Morrissey, a Bracken Ridge Little Athletic Centre junior, prevailed in the draining 2000m under-16 steeplechase while another Bracken Ridge junior Imogen Mills was a member of the 4x100m under-14 relay team which clinched a bronze medal .Jemma Keefe was also a silver medal winner from the junior club.

Nudgee College sprinter Ashley Wong also won gold and silver and another northsider Alexander Stitt was a medallist.