DANIEL Williams, a fourteen-year-old Bishop Druitt College Year 9 student, has won the 1500m and 800m u16 races in The Australian Track and Field championships 26 March – 3 April 2022 at Sydney Olympic Park in Homebush, Sydney.

His winning times were 4:02.70 (1500m) and 1:57.98 (800m).

Daniel, who lives in Nambucca Heads, told News Of The Area, “I went into the meet confident after wins at all prior races coming into the national championships.

“I have increased my training intensity and train with a group of athletes my own age regularly who are also achieving amazing results nationally.

“Last year I competed in the national championships in the 1500m and came twelfth so it was a huge improvement in one year.

“This year I had the fourth fastest seed time going into the 1500m and the fastest seed time for the 800m nationally.

“My coach is Andrew Rowlings and he had confidence in me taking out my first national title.

“He’s included a lot more speed work into my training plan and he has helped to make the final 200m in a race my strength.”

Daniel trains with Andrew Rowlings and his squad in Coffs twice a week.

The 1500m race was a straight final, no heats.

“I took the lead early to avoid running in an outer lane because this means I would be running further.

“I set a comfortable pace which I kept going for the first 1100m.

“On the bell lap (400m to go) the pace picked up and two interstate athletes passed me with 300m to go.

“As we entered the home straight, I increased the leg speed and got back into first place finishing in 4 min 2 seconds, a five second PB for me.”

The 800m had three heats to make the final the following day.

“In my heat I ran a fast time (2 min 1 second) but didn’t feel great and finished in fourth but it was fast enough to qualify for the final.

“In the final the first lap was very controlled, and I hugged the inside lane.”

The eight finalists were all running together.

“As we entered the last 400m the speed increased and I found myself in a lead group of three athletes, entering the last turn I took the lead and was able to maintain and extend it to take the win in 1 min 57 seconds.”

After the championships Daniel says he feels very relieved and a great sense of accomplishment.

“I knew that I was capable of taking out the two titles but it’s still pretty surreal that I actually did it.

“Next for me is a bit of a break and being able to play some team sports which I put on hold going into the national championships.

“The cross country season is starting now and I’m looking forward to hopefully making the NSW team to compete at nationals in Adelaide in August.

“I enjoy Parkrun on Saturday mornings in Urunga and am running in the Mid North Coast Cross Country Series races which started last weekend.

“My running goal is one day to represent Australia in an 800m event such as World Junior championships or the Commonwealth Games.”

 

By Andrea FERRARI