Why Olympics aspirant Cameron Myers is one among Australia’s finest athletics prospects in years
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At simply 17, Australian middle-distance prodigy Cameron Myers shows maturity that’s simply as spectacular as his excellent performances on the monitor have been throughout the previous 12 months.
This was evident throughout Thursday evening’s Maurie Plant Meet at Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium, when the Canberran lined up for the celebrated John Landy Mile.
Among the many discipline was Nice Britain’s Jake Wightman, who received the 1,500 metres on the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, and Tasmanian Stewart McSweyn, a finalist within the “metric mile” on the Tokyo Olympics.
Myers refused to be intimidated by the standard of his rivals, whereas he confirmed poise throughout the early jostling for place that’s frequent within the middle-distance occasions.
He used his easy operating kind to place himself in rivalry for victory alongside McSweyn and Wightman within the closing 50 metres when the race got here right down to a determined dash.
The larger expertise of McSweyn and Wightman got here to the fore as they completed first and second in 3:52.00 and three:52.11 respectively, however Myers was not far off in third place after posting a personal-best time of three:52.44.
Myers smashed the nationwide beneath 20 document of three:55.44 he set on the identical meet final February when he grew to become the second youngest athlete in monitor and discipline historical past — behind Norway’s reigning Olympic 1,500m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen — to interrupt the four-minute mile barrier.
The burden of expectation generally is a heavy burden for any younger athlete to hold, however Myers went from power to power throughout his 2023 abroad marketing campaign whereas juggling 12 months 11 research at Lake Ginninderra Faculty.
Final July, when making his Diamond League debut within the 1,500m in opposition to the likes of Ingebrigtsen in Chorzów, Myers ran a PB of three:33.26, which went down within the document books because the world beneath 18 finest efficiency over the space.
It additionally broke the Australian beneath 18 and 20 data and gave Myers a qualifying time for the World Athletics Championships, which have been being held in Budapest the next month.
Myers, although, selected to not compete on the world titles, as a substitute returning to Australia to deal with making ready for the 2024 Olympic season.
His effort in Chorzów meant he already had an Olympic qualifier beneath his belt and the prolonged low season seems to be paying off.
Except for his efficiency in Melbourne, Myers received the 1,500m finally weekend’s Adelaide Invitational in 3:34.55, the second-fastest time he has run.
Giving up the prospect to make his world championships debut illustrated the mature method Myers is taking. He knew he can be higher off returning to the coaching monitor in his pursuit of a berth on Australia’s workforce for the Paris Olympics.
“Final 12 months I used to be missing just a little little bit of that power that these guys would have over the longer distances,” Myers informed ABC Sport on the Maurie Plant Meet.
“So engaged on that weak point is admittedly displaying now and I am blissful.”
Myers needs to compete in opposition to one of the best
A scarcity of worry when going through world-class competitors is one other facet of Myers’s make-up as an athlete that implies he might develop into one among Australia’s middle-distance greats.
He thrived on the chance to race in Melbourne in opposition to Wightman, who will likely be among the many medal contenders in Paris if absolutely match after experiencing an injury-marred 2023 season.
“I wish to get into these larger meets and begin competing on the world stage in opposition to one of the best,” Myers mentioned.
“So having a man like Jake right here is at all times good to check the health and see the place I am at.”
Past the home season, Myers — who trains beneath revered coach Dick Telford — will head abroad for races in the USA, earlier than basing himself in Germany.
He’s one among three Australians to have run an Olympic qualifier within the 1,500m — the opposite two being McSweyn and Adam Spencer — however is just not assured a spot within the workforce for Paris, with the choice course of nonetheless to play out.
An Olympic debut this 12 months can be a well-deserved achievement, nonetheless Myers — who turns 18 in June — nonetheless has the Los Angeles (2028) and Brisbane (2032) Video games to sit up for when he will likely be nearer to the height of his profession.
“I am enhancing as an athlete and I am getting higher 12 months on 12 months,” Myers mentioned.
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