Zoe Buckman (Vic), who stormed in to the final of the women’s 1500m at the 2013 IAAF World Championships, has the qualifier for the Beijing 2015 titles in her sights when she takes to the track at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene (USA) this weekend.
Round 3 of the IAAF Diamond League, the bumper two-day event marks the return of international athletics to the home of track and field in America, with the world’s best athletes to be joined in the competition arena by a plethora of Australians including Collis Birmingham (Vic, 5000m), Ryan Gregson (NSW, mile) and Kathryn Mitchell (Vic, javelin).
“I am aiming to qualify for Beijing. I don’t really know what to expect from the race, but I think I’ve got a good shot. I’m going to get out and compete like I know I can then see what happens,” Buckman said.
“I definitely want to reproduce another great performance in Beijing. Last year I put a lot of pressure on myself after Moscow the year before and I think I let that get on top of me. This year I’m just focused on doing my best and enjoying it. A bit of luck is always needed for it to come together on the day, but my determination is there.
Buckman’s upcoming run will deliver her first international start in 2015 after the three-time national champion suffered a calf injury during the Australian Athletics Tour. The setback forced her withdrawal from the IAAF World Relays, an event at which she won bronze in 2014, but a stint of training at altitude has ensured her return to good shape.
“After the Nationals I had to spend some time in the pool because I had a calf strain. Fortunately I was back running in time to head to Laguna towards the end of May, which was the perfect place to recapture my fitness. I’ve now completed a five week stint at altitude and I am excited to get out and race again,” Buckman said.
“I decided to miss the World Relays as I felt that my form wasn’t back up to scratch after missing that bit of training when recovering. It did help to have a few more days to get going in my training block and focus on getting fit enough to qualify (for World Championships).”
The IAAF Diamond League rolls on throughout June, with meetings confirmed for Rome (ITA), Birmingham (GBR), Oslo (NOR) and New York (USA). Athletes set to compete include Sally Pearson (Qld), Dani Samuels (NSW), Genevieve LaCaze (Qld), Brett Robinson (Vic) and Melissa Duncan (Vic).
The national 800m record holder Alex Rowe (Vic) will open his international campaign in Sollentuna (SWE) late in June, with Commonwealth champion Alana Boyd (Qld) to be joined by Nina Kennedy (WA) and Liz Parnov (WA) just days later in Mannheim (GER).
May 29-30: IAAF Diamond League (Round 3) – Eugene (USA)
800m: Selma Kajan (Vic)
1500m: Zoe Buckman (Vic)
Mile: Ryan Gregson (NSW)
5000m: Collis Birmingham (Vic), David McNeill (Vic)
Javelin: Kathryn Mitchell (Vic)
For more information on the IAAF Diamond League, including entry lists and event timetables,
please click here.
May 31: Rock ‘N’ Roll Half Marathon – San Diego (USA)
Half marathon: Jessica Trengove (SA)
June 4: IAAF Diamond League (Round 4) – Rome (ITA)
100m hurdles: Sally Pearson (Qld)
Discus throw: Dani Samuels (NSW)
For more information on the IAAF Diamond League, including entry lists and event timetables,
please click here.
June 4: Adrian Martinez Classic – Concord (USA)
Mile: David McNeill (Vic)
June 6: IAAF World Race Walking Challenge – La Coruna (ESP)
20km walk: Dane Bird-Smith (Qld)
June 6: Music City Distance Carnival – Nashville (USA)
800m: Brittany McGowan (Qld)
June 7: IAAF Diamond League (Round 5) – Birmingham (GBR)
100m hurdles: Sally Pearson (Qld)
1500m: Zoe Buckman (Vic)
5000m: Brett Robinson (Vic), Collis Birmingham (Vic)
Discus throw: Dani Samuels (NSW)
For more information on the IAAF Diamond League, including entry lists and event timetables,
please click here.
June 8: Harry Jerome Classic – Vancouver (CAN)
1500m: Heidi See (NSW)
June 8: Josef Odlozil Memorial Meet – Prague (CZE)
Javelin: Kelsey-Lee Roberts (ACT)
June 10: Victorian International Track Classic – Victoria (CAN)
1500m: Heidi See (NSW)
June 11: IAAF Diamond League (Round 6) – Oslo (NOR)
1500m: Zoe Buckman (Vic), Melissa Duncan (Vic), Brittany McGowan (Qld)
Mile: Ryan Gregson (NSW)
For more information on the IAAF Diamond League, including entry lists and event timetables,
please click here.
June 13: IAAF Diamond League (Round 7) – New York (USA)
100m hurdles: Sally Pearson (Qld)
3000m steeplechase: Genevieve LaCaze (Vic)
Discus throw: Dani Samuels (NSW)
For more information on the IAAF Diamond League, including entry lists and event timetables,
please click here.
June 14: Portland Track Festival – Portland (USA)
5000m: David McNeill (Vic)
June 25: Sollentuna GP – Sollentuna (SWE)
800m: Alex Rowe (Vic)
Javelin: Kelsey-Lee Roberts (ACT)
June 27: Bauhaus Gala – Mannheim (GER)
Pole vault: Alana Boyd (Qld), Nina Kennedy (WA), Liz Parnov (WA)
June 27: International Meeting di Nivelles – Nivelles (BEL)
800m: Joshua Ralph (NSW)
1500m: Melissa Duncan (Vic)
June 28: Finnish Athletics Carnival – Pihtipudas – (FIN)
Javelin: Kelsey-Lee Roberts (ACT)
