World U20 Team Profile: Pat Cantlon

22 June 2022

World U20 Team Profile: Pat Cantlon

Pat Cantlon continued his build up to his debut for Australian at the World U20 Championships in August, with a commanding win in the NSW U20 Cross Country Championships on Saturday. The talented all-round distance runner overcame very strong fields in the National Junior championships in March, to secure selection in the 1500m and 3000m for the World U20 Championships.

Read about his journey in athletics.

Two of Australia’s strongest events last summer were the men’s junior 1500m and 3000m. Trinity’s Pat Cantlon, with an ability to qualify for the World Juniors in four events, 800m, 1500m, 3000m and 5000m, settled on the 1500m and 3000m at the trials and National U20 Championships. In these highly competitive fields Pat was superb, placing second in both and booking his ticket to the World U20 Championships.

Like many athletes Patrick Cantlon was involved in many sports when he was young including soccer, AFL, water polo and cricket. He also ran and recalls his beginning in athletics.

“I first started middle/long distance running in year 3 when I made it to state cross country. After this I realised I had a natural talent for running so I decided to join my local cross country club, Sutherland, the following season,” he said.

At 12 he started with his current coach, Owen Stewart, which he credits for developing him into the athlete he is today. Pat also notes two other key people in his development.

“I was very fortunate in being able to attend Trinity Grammar School, which has arguably one of the best track and field programs in the World, under some amazing coaches such as Brad Woods and Andrew Murphy.”

While 16 in 2020 he clocked two impressive times of 3:59.17 (1500m) and 8:39.74 (3000m), but much of 2020 didn’t go smoothly.

“Definitely my bone stress injury during the 2020 winter was one of my biggest challenges. Not being able to run for three months tested my desire to get fit again, knowing the hard work and perseverance required.”

In the summer of 2021, he was back on track with significant progression in the 1500m, with three PBs now down to 3:51.75 for fourth in the National junior 1500m title.

He built up for the 2021/22 summer where he would chase a World U20 Championships qualifier, but his incredible form across four events presented a dilemma of what event/s should he concentrate on.

It kicked off in November 2021 when he was seventh in the NSW open 3000m in a 19 seconds PB and World U20 standard time of 8:14.29. In February there was a quick 5000m in 14:19.75, just outside the standard. Also in February he won the NSW open 1500m title in a qualifier of 3:45.30 and a week later just missed the 800m World U20 standard clocking 1:51.31.

“I decided to contest the 1500m and 3000m at nationals in a bid to make the U20 Australian team.”

But he had elected the two most competitive events with eight and nine World U20 qualifiers respectively, in the 1500m and 3000m. Despite this intense competition, Pat nailed second place in both events – a brilliant achievement. The places secured selection for the World U20 Championships.

IN BRIEF:

Enjoyment of competing: The adrenaline rush you get when the gun goes off and pushing yourself to the limit to surpass what you thought you could achieve…Hero: Steve Prefontaine, a gutsy runner who wasn’t afraid to push the pace and he achieved so much in his short career…Advice to your young self: Be patient, don’t expect things to happen overnight but rather over months and years of hard work…Hobbies: playing golf…Education: In August starting at Northeastern University, Boston and likely to study engineering.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Pat Cantlon on the way to winning the NSW open 1500m title (image courtesy of Fred Etter)