Jye Edwards back on track, winning NSW 3000m title
Published Sun 10 Nov 2019
10 November 2019
Jye Edwards back on track, winning NSW 3000m title
It has been nearly three years since he has raced on the track but that didn’t stop Jye Edwards dominating the NSW 3000m championship last evening at Homebush.
A junior talent, Jye Edwards (BAN) ran a 4:00.2 mile in his teens, but injuries then detoured his career. Now 21, last winter he showed glimpses of a return.
“I had a pretty good winter, but still had some disruptions, but my training leading up to this race was quite good and I got a good block in and it has allowed me to get a good run in today,” said the Sports and Exercise student from Canberra.
Like the women’s event, the race was setup perfectly, courtesy of state record holder Ben St Lawrence (RunCrew), who paced the event depth into the race – the fifth lap, where just Edwards and Kieren Tall (UTN) were in touch.
Left in the lead with two laps to go, Edwards was able to maintain the momentum extending his lead and hitting the finishing line nearly eight seconds clear. His run was a four seconds PB.
“I was pretty pleased,” he said. “At the end of the day it’s a state championship win - you can’t be unhappy with that. Given the conditions out there, it was quite blowy, and it almost felt like you were running into it both ways, but we were very fortunate Benny St Lawrence set it up for us.”
Tall, also 21, was in a battle for the sliver from standout teenager Luke Young (NCF) with both hitting the line at 8:17, and Young taking silver in 8:17.11 to Tall’s 8:17.52. Both were rewarded with PBs.
“It was a one or two seconds PB which is really nice,” said Young. “It was a pleasure to get out there and run a 3000m against the senior boys.”
The very talented middle-distance runner who ran a 3:44 1500m aged just 17, has set his sights on the World Junior/U20 Championships next year in Nairobi.
“I’m feeling good and running well and if I can maintain the training, I’m in with a chance over there (Kenya) and it is good to know you are in with a chance in an international race.”
Tall smashed his previous best by 10 seconds and will certainly be one to watch over summer, guided by the Run Crew coaching team of Gary Howard and Ben St Lawrence.
Fourth placegetter Will Austin-Cray (UTN), with 8:19.01 took 21 seconds from his PB.
Watch a video of the event and view images of the race at https://www.facebook.com/AthleticsNSW/
Full results http://www.nswathletics.info/liveresults/2019/nsw_3k/
David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Medallists Kieren Tall, Jye Edwards & Luke Young (courtesy of David Tarbotton)