Canberra Track Classic Review: Edwards destroys 1500m PB

12 March 2021

Canberra Track Classic Review: Edwards destroys 1500m PB

Australia’s strong distance running fraternity capped off a tremendous second leg of the national series – the Canberra Track Classic last evening, with NSW’s Jye Edwards taking the men’s 1500m.

It was a PB four years in the making for Jye Edwards (BAN) last evening in Canberra. In 2017 former Wollongong teenager Jye Edwards ran the startling time of 3:41.69. But that mark would remain his best until last night when he won the 1500m in a four seconds PB time of 3:37.30.

“It has been along time coming,” said Edwards. “I was lucky tonight to be setup by two great training mates James Nipperess and Reece Langdon so I’m very thankful they could help take me through.“

Time was the goal tonight for Edwards.

“It was a good PB. That was the sole focus tonight. I knew could I break 3:40. To break that PB and get rid of that 2017 time and have a current one, I’m over the moon.”

He was going so well during the race a significant improvement was on the cards.

“(mid-race) I felt 3:36 was there but got a bit lactic on the last lap.”

He was fresh off altitude training.

“I’ve just spent a couple of weeks up at Perisher and came down a couple of days ago.”

Since his tremendous late 2020 running, where he won the Albie Thomas mile (3:57.30) and clocked a quick 7:56.58 3000m, he has been rather quiet.

“For two weeks I had a mild calf strain in January, then had a bit of sickness two weeks ago, that was only a few days or a week out.”

But he knows that he competes in an event that has great depth in Australia.

“1500m running in Australia is the strongest I can remember in a very long time. No doubt the three names that make the team (Tokyo Olympics) are going to be very good, so we are in very good hands.”

It has been about four years, since a teenager Sarah Walsh (SUT) departed the ‘Shire’ in Sydney for coaching in Canberra with Matt Beckenham. During that time she has competed at the Paralympics and won a medal at the World Para Athletics Championships. The PB of the leg amputate athlete, who long jumps in the T64 category has hovered around 5.20m and twice hit 5.34m. But last night in Canberra, she smashed that PB and he own Oceania record with a superb 5.49m leapt.

The constant rain early in the evening hampered times, but there were still three tremendous wins for NSW athletes in the conditions. Sprinter Rohan Browning (SYU) took the 100m in 10.34, but it was two hurdle runs in the challenging conditions that shone.

Nick Hough (SYU) bounced back from a rare defeat at the NSW Championships to post an excellent time of 13.63 in the conditions, ahead of Nick Andrews (CHE) with 13.81.

A big improver this summer, Abbie Taddeo (ILL) proved she can more than mix it with the nation’s best, taking the win in 13.33, ahead of Celeste Mucci (VIC) 13.43 and in fourth former NSW athlete Hannah Jones 13.44.

With the rain falling, she knew it was not going to be a fast time.

“It (the rain) was a bit frustrating, but if my coach has taught me one thing it was to adapt very quickly. It was something I had to do today I knew it was not going to be a great time in the conditions, so we just wanted to get the win and we did that.

Taddeo, now 27 but in the best form of her career, showed the important of experience.

“I think what I did very well tonight is I brought a second pair of shoes, so I had a dry pair to race in which was really smart of me. Around the middle part of the race it was quite slippery and I knew I needed to keep a lid on it and run through to the finish line.”

She was singularly focused throughout he race.

“For me this season it is about my race, my lane, my 10 hurdles. I knew it was going to be a close race and the girls all ran amazing tonight.”

A big improver from his NSW Championships 400m fourth place was Louis Stenmark (UTN), who placed second in 46.88. What made the different tonight for him?

“It was altitude, I came in here and just gave it a good crack. I kind of like the rain it cools you down a bit.”

Mackenzie Little (SYU) maintained her consistent high standard in the javelin with a throw of 58.43m and in doing so defeated world champion Kelsey-Lee Barber who threw 53.46m

Other NSW highlights were:

• 1500m World U20 Championships qualifiers for Imogen Stewart (ILL) 4:17.14 and Jaylah Hancock-Cameron (BAN) 4:17.92
• A Paralympic Games B qualifier for James Turner T36 100m 12.02
• A tremendous 9cm long jump PB and second place for Alec Diamond (UTN) with a leap of 7.74m.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image Jye Edwards winner of the men’s 1500m in a four seconds PB. (image courtesy of Fred Etter)