Illawarra Academy of Sport Graduates Ryan Gregson and Madeline Hills have their eyes firmly fixed on an Olympics final after sizzling performances. Hills, representing Australia in the 3000m steeplechase in Rio de Janeiro, set a 1500m personal best in a race in Belgium, stopping the clock in 4:06.47. Gregson set his second fastest ever 1500m time at a Diamond League meet in Monaco, just a second outside his Australian own record set in 2010. In a frantic finish, Gregson charged late to stay in touch with the race leaders, including London gold medallist Taoufik Makhloufi from Algeria. Makhloufi won the Olympics event four years ago in 3:34.08, without the pacemakers and finished third at the weekend, behind Kenya’s Ronald Kwemoi. Gregson though, showed he can match it in the final sprint, crossing the line seventh in 3:32.13, the fastest run of his career since breaking the national record with a time of 3:31.06. In London, Gregson missed the semi-finals narrowly. Adding to the Illawarra’s potential, Hills ramped her Rio preparations by finishing fourth in 4:06.47, her faster ever 1500m result, coming off the back of a heavy training load before her Rio racing begins in the second week of Olympics competition. Hills will move to a training base with the Australian athletics team in Florida, to acclimatise to the south American conditions. “It’s important, it will be at least mid-20s and with humidity,” she told the Mercury. “It’s tricky, because you can do all the work in the world, but you’ve got to be ready for the race on the day.” Hills competed in a Gold Coast 10km kilometre race earlier this month, stopping at the five kilometre mark, as part of her training strategy. The 29-year-old placed fourth at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as part of her steep climb in the sport in recent years and is focused on making the gold medal race. “That’s the dream, it’s not going to be easy, but I’m doing everything I can,” she said. First Published in
