Ollie Hoare confessed to an embarrassing pre-race mishap involving a chicken curry
Ollie Hoare confessed to an embarrassing pre-race mishap that saw him vomiting on the sidelines after running the John Landy Mile.
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Ollie Hoare may be the now but Australia has unearthed a future star with 16-year-old Cameron Myers producing an extraordinary record-breaking performance in the John Landy Mile.
The Year 11 student from Canberra became the second youngest runner in history to break the four-minute barrier for the mile – just nine days older than reigning Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen when he did it in May 2017.
But Myers, who turns 17 in June, produced a quicker time than Ingebritsen did when he crashed through the barrier, clocking 3min55.44sec to finish third behind Hoare.
The brilliant run stripped an incredible 12 seconds off Myers previous personal best with the perfect conditions for the Maurie Plant Meet at Lakeside Stadium and a fast paced race generating something special.
“I knew I had something in me, obviously 55 is pretty good, I didn’t expect it,” Myers said.
“He (Ingebrigtsen) did it nine days earlier than I did today. It is a really big confidence builder but I just have to stay humble and keep working hard I guess.”
Ingebritsen broke the four-minute barrier when he was 16 years 250 days old and then went on to become one of the greatest middle distance runners in history.
He won the 1500m gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and last year after a shock defeat at the world championships in Eugene last year, he backed up to claim the 5000m world title.
Hoare, who took the lead early and was never really challenged, claimed the win in 3:52.24sec and revealed there were moments in the race where he was concerned about the Lake Ginninderra student.
“You focus on your own race and our game plan was to be in front at the 800, try and squeeze it down and make it hard to make anyone come around and pass,” Hoare said.
“Then there was this young kid going with us, that’s dangerous, he’s got momentum, he’s got a lot to prove and he wants to get those scalps.
“He’s run 3:55 so he’s probably run at 16 years of age better than most people in college in the US.
“It is amazing talent for Australia moving forward and I’m excited for him, that’s why we have these meets, we have the hype, we have people coming back to give our youth an opportunity to run fast and compete well with some of the best.
“He was able to get that opportunity, seized it and went for it.
“I wasn’t running that quick (at 16). I think 16 was when I first hit the track, I had been swimming, my 1500 was 3:45 so it was probably 4:02 or 03 (for the mile) so he’s eight seconds ahead, he has got a bright future and I look forward to watching his progress and seeing him thrive in the years to come.”
The Commonwealth Games 1500m champion was in trouble after he crossed the line, throwing up on the side of the track.
“I had a chicken korma at three o’clock, not a good idea,” Hoare said. “This is what professional running is all about, you learn from your mistakes, my mistake today was eating chicken korma.”
Hoare said he felt fatigued after a busy schedule which included winning the bronze medal in the mixed relay event at the world cross-country titles in Bathurst on Saturday.
His main local challenger, national 1500m record holder Stewart McSweyn, avoided a clash by instead running the 3000m event where he had to settle for second place behind Kenya’s Ishmael Kipkurui.
Kipkurui, who won the U/20 gold medal at the world cross-country championships, took the lead over the final lap and sprinted away to win in 7:41.38sec with McSweyn clocking 7:44.36sec.
There was an exciting sprint to the line in the women’s 1500m with Australian teammates from the world cross-country championships, Jessica Hull and Abbey Caldwell, going toe-for-toe over the final 100m.
The strength of US-based Hull prevailed in the end, winning in 4:07.11sec from Caldwell (4:07.32sec) with Georgia Griffith third (4:10.06sec).
The victory salute starting 20 metres from the line told the story about the ease of Fred Kerley’s first race on Australian soil.
With an impressive and vocal crowd packing into Lakeside Stadium, the fastest man in the world responded to the good vibes by putting on a show in the Peter Norman 200.
Kerley cruised to victory in 20.32sec to defeat Australia’s best sprinter Rohan Browning (20.71sec) with Adelaide teenager Aidan Murphy third (20.76sec).
While he didn’t go sub-20sec as he’d predicted earlier in the week, the comfortable win against quality opposition had the US superstar happy with his night’s work.
“It just comes (the victory salute), you know when you feel good you do good stuff,” Kerley said.
“It was good and easy, getting me ready for the season . . . the W is all that matters. The crowd loved it so it’s all good.
“This was my first race, I have got unfinished business in the 200 so to come out and race, enjoy myself and have fun is all I wanted.”
The reigning 100m world champion will turn his attention to the 400m for the Sydney Track Classic in two weeks.
Browning came back an hour later and claimed victory in the 100m, clocking 10.26sec to narrowly defeat New Zealand’s Edward Osei-Nketia (10.27sec).
It was a gutsy performance from the Tokyo Olympic semi-finalist who was slow out but wore down the Kiwi over the final 10 metres.
THE FLYING MULLET âš¡ï¸âš¡ï¸
— 7Sport (@7Sport) February 23, 2023
Browning bursts over the top... Simply too good! #ThisIsAthletics@athsaustpic.twitter.com/mhSf18AgB2
“He’s (Osei-Nketia) been the guy who’s really threatened me over the past couple of years and he’s just running so well,” Browning said.
“It’s a shame he’s going to American football next year, that’s a huge loss to the sport. He’s a great competitor and I thought it’d be good to get the win coming straight off the 200.”
The 25-year-old Sydney law student said he had learnt so much being around Kerley in the lead-up to the Maurie Plant Meet.
“We were chatting a bit in the car on the way to ‘The Project’ the other night and I tell you what, he’s a really polite, humble guy,” Browning said. “I think it just really surprised me with his humility for a top flight athlete.
“Being around the best just demystifies it, you realise they are human.”
Browning stopped short of declaring he would do the 100m/200m double moving forward but was happy about the experience given his body would have previously not allowed it.
“You gotta have the range. I mean, you look at Fred he just runs a 200 so easy, cruising through 20.30, that’s where you need to be. He’s truly world class and I have to get to that level,” he said.
“A couple of years ago, I would never have backed up. I would be way too fragile, way too cautious. Whereas now I’m confident that my body can handle it. I’m just a little bit older, less green and I think I have matured in my body a bit more.
“I’m also not in any illusions, I have to get a bit quicker and keep executing better.”
Browning will focus on the 100m at next month’s national championships in Brisbane before travelling to Europe to chase a qualifying time for the world titles in Budapest, Hungary.
In the women’s 100m, Naa Anang claimed victory in 11.20sec from Queensland’s Ella Connolly (11.30sec) who then backed up to win the 200m in 23.28sec.
Fan favourite Michelle Jenneke produced a world championships qualifying time in the 100m hurdles, clocking a slick 12.75sec.
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