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March 21, 2006 - Commonwealth Games, Melbourne, Australia

Top level competition in Commonwealth Games final

Nerves were high in the Melbourne Cricket Grounds Tuesday night as Stellingwerff and fellow competitors took the line in the women’s 1500m final. An estimated 80,000 plus spectators were in attendance that night to watch this unpredictable race.

Stellingwerff was one of eight women to automatically advance to this final, in the heats Monday morning. The additional four competitors qualified on time, which took 4:12.51 or faster. The heats are usually the most nerve-racking part of the competition.

“Since I was in the second heat I knew after the first heat exactly what time I needed to run to make the final. When I saw it was pretty fast, I started to get really nervous,” said Stellingwerff. “Once I was in [the final] I figured I had nothing to lose and would just go for it!

Common to most championship races, the final was very tactical, which means a tight pack of women with a lot of nudging and constant changing of positions. Stellingwerff got out hard and positioned herself in the middle of the pack on the outside.

The early pace was relatively slow compared to what most of these women would split in a personal best race. But, things started to heat up with about 600m to go and the race was on.

“There was a lot of jockeying for positions in the first kilometer or so of the race because of the slow pace, people get anxious,” said Stellingwerff. “I tried to stay calm, but of course I was anticipated a major break, just like everyone else. It’s kind of like being in bumper cars where you are trying to maintain your position while getting pushed around!”

The break came with about 500m to go when World Silver Medalist, Hayley Tullet, made a major move from the back into the lead. With 300m left in the race the medals were still up for grabs, with a pack of six women in front and the others close behind.

In the end, Lisa Dobriskey of England was the surprise winner coming in with a blistering kick. Sarah Jamieson of Australia and Hayley Tullet of Wales claimed the silver and bronze respectively.

Stellingwerff finished 11th overall, four seconds out of the medal positions. She was a bit disappointed not to place in a higher position, but pleased to be competitive in the final.

“Leading into the Games, my major goal was to make the final and be as competitive as possible in the final. I am pleased that I was right in the mix up until the final lap,” she explains. “Everyone in this final is world-class and I feel made a big step and proved that I am at this level as well, which gives me a lot of confidence for the future. I think I can be a medal contender in the future major championships.”

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