Sydney middle-distance runner Jenny Blundell got a physical introduction to international distance running today in the 1,000m final at the Youth Olympic Games. 

Starting from the inside lane she was bumped and muscled back for the first 100m and then was forced to almost stop and run three lanes wide around the second bend, to move from the back of the 17-girl field. 

The pace was on early and the 16-year-old did extremely well to not panic and work her way up to the back of the leading eight girls who had broken away after 400m. The leaders went through the 400m in 1:04 and Blundell was 12 metres back.  

“There was a lot of pushing and shoving and I really didn’t expect that. There was elbows everywhere and I got forced right back,” Blundell said. 

“But I just moved on and didn’t worry about that and moved around the pack.” 

The whole field began to spread between 400m and 800m with Blundell finding some clear track and looking strong. 

As eventual Ethiopian winner Tizita Ashame kept increasing the pace with 400m to run, Blundell was eighth and six metres down at the bell. The Australian kept fighting on the final lap and showed her strength to run over the top of three girls into fifth. She just didn’t quite have the change of pace in the final 200m to challenge for a medal.

World Youth Champion Ashame won in 2:43.24 with Blundell finishing in 2:46.82. It wasn’t a personal best for her but considering the elbows, extra ground she covered and energy used in the first 500m it was a superb performance. 

Blundell who was the third youngest in the field was pleased with her run. 

“I was going into the competition ranked seventh I think and a top five finish is awesome.  I’m really happy. 

“There was a point in the race that I thought I’m not even going to make top ten so I said to myself  ‘C’mon Jenny pick yourself up let’s go’.” 

The pace and physical nature of the race was not what she was expecting. 

The heat was just so much more relaxed. They took it all out hard and fast and I thought they would run tactically which would have given me a shot but they just went for it from the gun.” 

Steeplechaser Grant Gwynne and pole vaulter Brodie Cross completed their Youth Olympic competitions with solid efforts in their B finals today. Both athletes have got the taste for international competition and want more in the future. 

Gwynne was sick when he woke, like walker Blake Steele 24 hours earlier, yet still put up a brave fight to finish fourth in a fast B Final.  

“I haven’t run the times I had wanted but top 12 in the world isn’t bad and it’s been an awesome experience,” the Queenslander said. 

Cross said the main thing he will take away from his YOG experience is to have more confidence and back himself more on the runway and with the bigger heights. 

Today he cleared 4.50m easily and had plenty of height on two of his three attempts at 4.60m but he fell couldn’t come up with the clearance.   

In the final session later tonight, Raheen Williams chases a medal in the 400m hurdles from lane 1 and Australians feature strongly for Oceania in the medley relays. For the boys Nick Hough will run the 300m and Williams the 400m. The opening two legs covered by sprinters from Fiji and Papa New Guinea. For the girls Michelle Jenneke will lead off, Monica Brennan will run the 200m, New Zealand runner the 300m and Blundell will anchor with the final 400m. 

Andrew Reid
AOC