By JARROD POTTER
IN THE last two weeks, Pakenham hurdler Matt de Bruin earned a pair of qualifying times to take his athletics onto the international arena.
The 18-year-old Beaconhills College student leapt into the best Australian rankings with a pair of IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships qualifying times – this year held in Eugene, Oregon, USA – in his pet event the 110-metre hurdles.
Scorching the field at a High Velocity meet at Lakeside Oval, de Bruin stopped the clock at 13.99 – placing him just on the World qualifying time for the event.
The first feat was restricted by pre-race nerves but de Bruin was able to smash them aside and register the time to put him on the world stage.
“I was probably a little underprepared and we went to the track and went through my usual warm ups and before the race I was a little nervous as one of the blokes next to me had a faster time in the lower height, so he was pretty quick,” de Bruin said.
“Thought this would be a fast race – had a fast start and the race ‘didn’t’ feel amazing… like it was one of my quicker races… wasn’t expecting to run anything special.
“Conditions were perfect and I ran a pretty good race, my sprint to the line was a bit jelly legged… they said after over the speakers ‘congratulations Matt de Bruin running a World Junior qualifying time’.”
“I was absolutely rapt with that and didn’t expect it… the hard work paid off over the last few years… I’ve been working hard for it.”
Backing up last weekend in Sydney, de Bruin stopped the clock underneath World’s time again with a personal best 13.93 at the New South Wales Junior Athletics Championships, finishing third to his closest competition for World’s qualifying – New South Welshmen Harrison Andrews (13.77) and Ivor Metcalf (13.82).
“Starting to feel a bit lethargic and shaky… got down on the blocks and had a practice start and was happy with it but after that wasn’t feeling great,” de Bruin said.
“Had the worst start I’ve probably had all season and didn’t feel strong… felt like my legs wouldn’t go.
“13.93… I ran a PB which I’m rapt with.
“Shows there’s a lot of improvement to do and there’s a lot to work on.
“I’ve got four weeks to prepare and knuckle down and get mentally right.”
De Bruin can focus on the Australian 2014 Australian Junior Athletics Championships in New South Wales now and if he can finish first or second in his event, he’ll earn the chance to represent Australia in July.
The Australian Junior Athletics Championships run from 12 – 16 March.
