Hot on Tamsyn's tail E-mail
Trish setting her sights on conquering headline act
By JOSH LEESON  
Newcastle Herald
February 6, 2010

ATHLETICS glamour girl Tamsyn Lewis "is in a class of her own" when it comes to the 400 metres.

That is the opinion of Maitland speedster Trish Greaves.

Greaves will be one of Lewis's main rivals tonight at the Hunter Track Classic at Glendale, and the 30-year-old is happy to have the underdog status when going up against the triple Olympian and former world indoor champion.

"I'm hoping for a fast time in the race. With Tamsyn there she should drag us all out," Greaves said.

"She's in a class of her own at the moment in Australia in the 400m. She's normally one to two seconds ahead of the rest of the field, but that's closing."

Greaves has regularly competed against Lewis in the past three years but has never beaten her.

Besides worrying about Lewis, Greaves is also regaining top fitness after tearing a muscle in her foot last year.

"I was told I should rest it for five months and let it repair, but I tried to manage it myself and I kept running through it. It stills flares up every now and then and I'm still running through it," she said.

A late bloomer, Greaves has never represented Australia.

She plans to retire at the end of the season and her dream is to finish at the Commonwealth Games as part of the 400m relay team with training trainer Pirrenee Steinert.

"I'm still improving and if I can keep my injuries under control I'm confident I'll keep improving," she said. "With every session I'm getting quicker, so by nationals I should be at my best or quicker.

"I've always wanted to be a member of the relay team, so that is my goal."

Tonight will also be a big night for Merewether javelin and discus thrower Liam Speers.

Speers turned 18 on January 29 and will be a major chance in the open javelin event.

He had a massive 2009, reaching the final eight in the World Youth Championships in Italy by throwing a personal best of 61.20 metres.

Waratah's Mark Taylor is the favourite for the men's high jump and has Commonwealth Games qualification in his sights when he competes against Miles Cole-Clark, Liam Wanless and Nick Moroney.