Sydney10: Elite athletes in Focus – Part 1

Published Wed 27 Apr 2022

27 April 2022

Sydney10: Elite athletes in Focus – Part 1

The 2022 Sydney10 race this Sunday around Sydney Olympic Park has attracted the some of the leading athletes from across the nation. In this part one of the podium potential/elite entries we chat preparation and race goals with four-time Olympian Lisa Weightman, and sub-29:30 athletes Archie Reid from Victoria and Liam Boudin from Queensland.

LISA WEIGHTMAN

The women’s race favourite is hitting the roads for her first competition since her historic fourth appearance in the green and gold at an Tokyo Olympics. In Japan, she placed an outstanding 26th in a career that has seen her top-35 at every Olympic appearance and on the podium at every Commonwealth Games she has contested. A qualify return from six races, in an event that at times can be unpredictable.

Lisa is she is easing back into competition in 2022.

“I am running this year for pure enjoyment,” explained Lisa Weightman who makes her Sydney10 debut this Sunday.

“Sydney10 looks like a fantastic race with a wonderful community and fits in perfectly to kick start my racing calendar. I've been building up week after week with my Melbourne University training partners and have kicked off a taper this week in amongst my marathon block, so hopefully fresh legs will do me well.”

With tremendous depth currently in Australian women’s distance running, Lisa is aware she will have strong competition.

“The race has an extremely talented group of women who are racing so well this year - it's going to be a great race. Anything is possible for all of us.”

Although not racing for over eight months, Lisa has been busy with areas of her life often neglected during the hectic lives of elite athletes.

“I’ve been focused on some professional goals and have recently been promoted to an exciting role at IBM.

“That combined with kick starting sporting life for our son Peter (post Covid lockdowns) and coaching my nephew Thomas it's been a nice balanced life since Tokyo for Lachlan (her husband and regular training partner) and I.”

But don’t think Lisa, who just two years ago recorded her second fastest marathon time of her career, doesn’t have some big plans for the year.

“In 2022 my goal is to run a PB in the marathon and races like the Sydney10 are opportunities to augment training with some faster running whilst running with friends.”

ARCHIE REID

Aged only 20, Moama-based Archie Reid is one of the rising stars of Australian distance running. Coached by high-profile Inside Running Podcast host Brady Threlfall, he has developed nicely from his small (6000 population) NSW/Victorian country town.

“I am looking forward to competing against a great field, it should be an exciting race up the front as there are a few of us capable of winning,” said Archie Reid.

He certainly turned heads last year when he placed fifth in the Launceston 10, placing in a superb time of 29:22, one second behind Kieren Tall who won the 2021 Sydney10 in the year’s fastest 10km road time by an Aussie.

“I think Launceston 10k 2021 was one of the best performances I have ever achieved and I would consider it a breakout run. I am hoping to improve on that time on Sunday.”

In the last six weeks he has clocked 5000m and 10000m track PBs.

“My training has gone very solid for this race. I would consider myself primed for this race as I have been racing a lot on the roads already this year giving me plenty of races to practice race tactics etc. Running a 5000m PB a few months ago also gives me confidence that my training has been going well. Hopefully I can win on Sunday but would be happy to get pushed with the others for a quick time.”

Archie Reid is well known to many of the distance running community through updates from his coach Brady Threlfall on his popular Inside Running Podcast.

“Brady Threlfall (Run2PB online coach) is also my training partner and I definitely can put a lot of my success down to him. It's great to have another elite runner in my small town. I run for the Bendigo Bats Athletics club. I'm not on a contract at the moment but hopefully will in the near future! While working full time I run around 120km a week. I would love to train more if I had the time. Rest and recovery can become tough when work gets busy.”

LIAM BOUDIN

Similar to Archie Reid, Queensland’s Liam Boudin is coming off a strong 2021 campaign. He and Archie both clocked breakthrough runs clocking at 29:22 at the Launceston 10k in 2021.

“Last year was a largely positive season on the roads for me, with a couple of pleasing results at the Launceston 10k and Sunshine Coast half marathon,” said Liam.

“I was able to string together a solid winter training block last year which held me in good stead for the longer road races. While I was satisfied with the placings at these races, I know I have some much quicker times within me - which I hope I can produce at the Sydney10.”

However, after starting his 2021/22 track season with a brilliant 10,000m time of 29:31, and backing this up with 11th at Zatopek, he shut down his track season.

“Training has been going really well of late. After dealing with some persistent hip and adductor issues late last year and throughout track season, I decided to end the track season early and back things off for a couple of months to let the injury settle. It was disappointing to not train or race at the level I knew I was capable of, but now that I am on top of these niggles, I am looking forward to starting the road season off well and producing some fast times.

Liam’s Launceston time ranks him equal second fastest (current times) amongst the entries, so a podium finish is certainly on the cards for him.

“The field looks highly competitive at this years’ Sydney10 so it should be another quick race, with plenty of local and interstate guys in the mix.”

A practising solicitor at Gold Coast based firm, OMB Solicitors, Liam has been able to combine study and now a busy job with his blossoming athletics career, supported by a quality training environment.

“I am currently living in Brisbane, however I work and train down at the Gold Coast as part of the Gold Coast Run Co. squad, which is coached by Jackson Elliot. I have been with the group for approximately two and a half years now, and I have loved being part of the squad. We have a number of high-quality runners and heaps of developing junior athletes.”