TWO London Olympians franked the quality of athletes on show at the Albury-Wodonga Gift with last stride wins yesterday.
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Sprinter Melissa Breen and 400-metre hurdler Lauren Boden both overcame back mark handicaps to win at the Albury Sportsground and now have their sights set on the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Breen, fresh from running a Commonwealth Games A qualifier on Friday night, gave front marker Celia Cosgriff a 17-metre start over the 120-metre women’s sprint final.
Cosgriff, who had won the 400 metres at Wangaratta on Saturday night, led to the shadows of the post.
Breen, 23, said she had no idea who had won.
“I could just see the colours out of the corner of my eye and just focused on keeping my rhythm,” she said.
“I certainly controlled my tempo better than the heat.
“The focus now is the Commonwealth Games and the Australian trials in April.
“But running off these backmarks forces you to run your own race, teaches you not to panic and running several races in the same day is very much like we will have to do at international competitions.
“The biggest aim is to stay injury free and run faster times when I begin to taper.”
Boden, a veteran of two Commonwealth Games, is a stablemate of Breen under the guidance of Matt Beckenham at Canberra.
She won the 300 metres yesterday and said it was time for some “bling” at this year’s Glasgow Games.
“I’ve been to two Commonwealth Games and I’m hoping for two medals this time around,” she said.
“But this is great training for when I get to the hurdles.
“This is the first sash I’ve won so I’m pretty excited.
“I ran the 400 earlier and was beaten pretty easily so that is an accurate reflection of where I am in training — 300 speed is good but I haven’t done any race pace work.
“It is pretty exciting for me, it just means I have so much more to improve on.”
Boden, 25, hadn’t hurdled since August but ran a B grade Commonwealth Games qualifier on Friday night as well.
“This is just great training to get the running into the legs and run under pressure,” she said.