CAMDEN CLASSIC 2009 WINNER – MATTHEW HARGREAVES
My first few years of running pro I was labelled a 400m runner, with a nice
stride and good leg turnover, I performed well but never won. After finishing
3rd in the Bendigo Black Opal, 3rd in the Stawell 400m back markers, then the
following year to come 2nd and 3rd again in the same finals and making just
about every other major 400m final, my biggest goal was to step on top of the
podium.
The next few years I concentrated on the shorter sprints, with the 70m and
120m, still competing over the 400m distance, but not with the same success.
My first 400m win didn’t come until 2008 winning at Wangaratta. After 4 years
in the sport, I had finally won my first 400m race!
I went down to Tasmania during the Christmas period of 2008/2009, where I
competed well but the results were not what I had hoped for. Coming back to
Victoria, I knew I had to train harder on the track as well as in the gym. My
lead up races to Camden were promising, I ran 3rd in the Ringwood 400m gift,
feeling much stronger than I ever have. The following week I went to
Wangaratta, I decided to miss the 400m in order to concentrate on the 120m
for some speed and ended up finishing 2nd in the gift final.
I arrived in Camden and was confident that I would do well, even though my
mark was the toughest I have had in my career. Camden has always been a
major goal, but making the final twice and not being successful was
disappointing. I have never headed into a race feeling as well as I did,
confidence was high. I saw my heat line up and was not sure of the other
runners in the heat or how well they were running. Running my own race, I
went out hard for the first 100m and was onto the pack comfortably, coming
from the red I knew I had a task to get around the runners who were in front of
me. In the middle of the back straight I came up onto the pack and
remembered what former runner Duncan Tippins had previously said “you
didn’t want to get caught up on the final bend”, so I went hard down the
second half of the back straight and hit the front with about 150m to go. I
finished my race strong down the home straight and made my way into the
final. I spent the next 30 minutes after the heat on my hand and knees
throwing up.
After the heats, John Henry and I looked at the field for the final and believed
that James Boden was the runner to beat. He was starting only a meter in
front of me and I thought to myself that if I was near him coming into the
straight that I would not be beaten. When the gun went off for the final I
followed Boden all the way around and we worked our way around the pack
heading for the home straight. Coming four wide off the bend, which is not
unusual for me, I knew I was the fastest in the field and started to use my
arms and sprint for home.
Crossing the line in first place was such a relief for me. After two failed
attempts in the Camden Classic final, I finally had a Camden Classic 400m
sash. Being only a hand full of Victorians to win the Camden Classic and to
win on the 30th anniversary of the race made it even more special. Looking
over a list of previous winners I feel honoured to have my name on the same
list.
I would like to thank the Camden Athletic Club for always putting on a
fantastic meet and preparing a great track. A big thank you to starter Brian
Hart who came out of retirement to start the 30th running of the Camden
Classic. Brian has always made me and the fellow Victorian runners feel very
welcome over in South Australia. I had received the bullet in a trophy, which
started the race, which Brian presented to me on the podium when I was
receiving my sash. When I look at the trophy it will always act as further
motivation for me to return to Camden and hopefully become a two time
winner of the classic!