Sublime Solomon sprints to third title
STAR speedster Steven Solomon made a successful return to Aussie soil on the weekend, when he took out his third 400m title at the Australian Athletics Championships in Melbourne.
STAR speedster Steven Solomon made a successful return to Aussie soil on the weekend, when he took out his third 400m title at the Australian Athletics Championships in Melbourne.
The 20-year-old, the past 12 months at Stanford University, ran a blistering 45.36 seconds in his first outdoor meet of the year, just missing out on automatic qualification for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in August.
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“I’m super-excited about where that puts me in position for the rest of the season and heading towards Glasgow,” Solomon said after the race.
“Indoor racing is completely different to outdoor in every regard, so I’m really excited to get back into the real track and field and keep pushing forward from here.”
In blustery conditions at Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium, Solomon was able to cope with the strong wind to storm home.
“You can only race the conditions you have at hand,” he said.
“It was a good test of my ability to hold strong and I was really happy with how I did that.”
This time last year, Solomon began his venture in the US with a debilitating back injury.
Now 12 months later, he’s ready to return to the form that set the world alight in London in 2012 when he made the Olympic final.
“It was painful watching the champs in my dorm last year,” he said.
“There was nothing I could do, I was still in agony with my back.
“I’m in a much better position now both mentally and physically and I’m looking forward to heading towards the rest of the season.’’
Solomon will return to Stanford on the back of another major win and will look to secure the Commonwealth Games qualification time of 45.30 seconds.
ASHLEY SHENKER
Photo: Peter Haskin
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