| Lewis looks to hurdles ahead |
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AAP July 26, 2009 LONDON: TAMSYN Lewis says she needs to do one thing between now and next month's athletics world championships - hurdling practice, lots of it. The 31-year-old Australian honed her preparations with a sixth placing in the flat 400 metres at the London Grand Prix on Friday, ahead of the August 15-23 world titles in Berlin, where she will contest the 400 metres hurdles. "I'm not nervous about it," said Lewis. "There's still a month to go and I'm really cautious this year about peaking at the right time. "I just needed a 400 race as I haven't done many. I didn't run great there, but my finish was awesome and I've been working on a relaxation thing because I feel that's important in the hurdles. "When I've run my previous fours, I'd go out really hard and die, so we're trying a few things and that wasn't too bad." Lewis ran 52.47 seconds at Crystal Palace, outside her personal best of 51.42. British athlete Nicola Sanders won in 51.54. After years of competing in the 800 metres, Lewis decided to turn her back on the event in which she became the 2008 world indoor champion with a view to competing at the London Olympics. Lewis receives specialist hurdling advice from Marty Barrow after her regular coach and brother, Justin, suggested she change events. But she knows she has a long road ahead. "I've got the stamina of an 800 runner and the speed of a good 400 runner, it makes sense," said Lewis. "I can hurdle off both legs, but I probably need a good year's training at it. I was surprised to make the world championships for it. I'll give it my best shot, but I'm not expecting anything." Lewis will race another flat 400 metres at the end of the month in Stockholm before heading to Australia's German training base in Cologne. "I'm looking forward to seeing my teammates; it gives you a bit of a boost to see everybody," Lewis said. "It's the best team I've ever been part of, hence I'm not quitting." Shot putter Scott Martin, also in Australia's 49-strong world championship squad, finished eighth with 19.22 metres in the nine-man competition, won by Christian Cantwell (21.82 metres) of the US. In the men's 800 metres, Australian Jeff Riseley led heading into the final bend, but faded to finish seventh in 1:47.28. Canadian Gary Reed won in 1:45.85 ahead of Poland's Adam Kszczot and Nicholas Symmonds of the US. Australia's Shawn Forrest was 11th in the men's 5000 metres, won by home favourite Mo Farah in 13:09.14. Kenyans Dammy Mutahi and Mike Kigen took the minor placings. |