Bring on the big guns

JOEL RITCHIE

BULLI’S Ryan Gregson is confident of mixing it with Australia’s elite middle distance runners at the iconic Zatopek Classic today (Thursday).

Gregson is fresh off breaking three Australian under records and defending his Australian All-Schools 1500m and 3000m title and believes his hot form can help him ambush some of Australia’s best in the Melbourne race.

He will contest the open men’s 1500m against Commonwealth Games representative Jeremey Ross and three-time Australian 800m champion Nick Blomley.

“I’m very confident, I’m in good form and the older guys are just starting their season,” Gregson said.

“I have been running some quick races so it should be pretty even.”

Gregson was speaking after defending his Australian under 18s 1500m and 3000m All-Schools titles at Homebush on the weekend.

Unlike his recent record-breaking binge, Gregson concentrated on tactics rather than times.

On Friday he raced the 3000m and kept the pace slow in order to conserve energy for his upcoming events.

He kicked from 600m out and took the title in a time of 8.39.00, with a final lap split of 56 seconds.

Ryan repeated these tactics on Sunday afternoon in the 1500m where he kicked with 400m to go to win in 3.51.79 with a final lap time of 54 seconds.

“I wanted to conserve energy for my race in Melbourne so I just wanted the opening laps to be slow and finish it off fast,” he said.

“It feels great to retain my national titles. I have had a great season and am looking forward to it continuing as it has been.”

After Zatopek, Gregson will be taking a well-earned rest for three weeks before he heads back down to Victoria to do a few weeks of altitude training at Falls Creek with the Australian junior squad.