Buoyed by strong performances at the IAAF World Relays, the quartet of Zoe Buckman (Vic), Ryan Gregson (NSW), Collis Birmingham (Vic) and Selma Kajan (NSW) will return to the track in Eugene (USA) this weekend as the prestigious IAAF Diamond League returns for Round 3.
Delivering the most illustrious of final competition opportunities for Australia’s distance charges as the Commonwealth Games Qualification Period fast approaches a close on 1 June, entry lists for the world-renowned Prefontaine Classic confirm the start of Buckman and Gregson in the 1500m and mile respectively, Birmingham in the longer 5000m and Kajan in the two-lap race.
Buckman’s start follows her important role in the delivery of two new Australian records in the women’s 4x800m and women’s 4x1500m relays in Nassau (BAH), and will bring to a close an extended stint in America that has seen the IAAF World Championships finalist train at altitude as part of her preparation for Glasgow 2014.
“I came to the U.S pretty much straight after Nationals and I have been happy to get in another solid month of altitude training. There has been some real consistency in my training this year and consistency is key, adding layer upon layer. The energy of the group meant that the month went by fast, and World Relays came around before we knew it,” Buckman said.
“It was a proper World Championships atmosphere in Nassau. It helped fire me up again after a quiet month on Mt Laguna. Running against (Moscow 2013 5000m silver medallist) Mercy Cherono on the opening leg of the 4x1500m was good practice for Glasgow, and I took what I had learnt from racing her in Melbourne into the race. It gave me confidence to see that I was closer to her this time and I really like running for a team, it gives you that extra motivation to rise to the occasion.”
The 2013 season was nothing short of outstanding for Buckman, with highlights including the women’s 1500m gold medal at the Australian Athletics Championships, personal best performances across six distances including the 800m and 1500m and a berth in the women’s metric mile final at the IAAF World Championships after strong wins in both her heat and semi-final.
Such success sees the University of Oregon alumni come into this season brimming with confidence, but she plans to approach each race individually with her main aim being satisfaction in knowing that she did all she could to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games.
“I feel like a completely different athlete now compared to when I lived as a student in Eugene, competing at Hayward Field back in 2011. Then I was along for the ride, now it's about being a contender,” Buckman added.
“I am taking one race a time, it is all you can do when you are racing and training on different continents like I do. I would like to put in a strong performance this weekend and then win more races in Europe. I want to run a sub 2-minute 800m and in Glasgow I want to finish knowing that I have done everything I could have to come home with a medal.
“I hope that my performance at the Prefontaine will be a chance to see where my fitness is at. I will give it my best shot at placing, and it will give me another chance to read my competition. At the World Relays I saw that I could kick off a slow first half so I am prepared for anything.”
A bounty of Australians is also set to compete both at home and abroad this weekend.
