News
July
24, 2006 – Olympic Meeting Thessaloniki, Greece
Stellingwerff, 4:05.86: PB and World Champs Standard in Greece
Although
Greece is considered to be the hottest place in Europe right
now, Monday night in Thessaloniki proved to be the perfect
conditions for fast times.
When the women’s
1500m race went off at 8:30 in the evening, the wind was calm
and temperatures were in the high 20s. The field hosted two
Russians who held personal bests of 4:02 or faster, along
with a few others who had clocked below 4:10. Hilary felt
this was an ideal race opportunity to achieve her goals of
a PB and next year’s world championship A standard (4:06.50).
“I
knew from my last two races that I was ready to run at least
a couple seconds faster than my pb, which would put me right
around the World Standard,” said Stellingwerff. “The
pacemaker was set to go out in 4-flat pace so my goal was
to be just off the leaders through 800m and really work hard
from there.”
Hilary’s
stuck to her race plan and was on goal pace at 800m (2:10).
A pb was within reach as long as she stayed on pace. With
the two Russians leading the way and Tiffany McWilliams of
USA close behind them, Hilary followed and then made a strong
push to the lead with a lap to go.
“I
was worried about the pace slowing and I was determined to
do everything I could to run fast. So I figured I might as
well go for it and started my kick from a lap out.”
In the
final 200m, Hilary was passed by the two Russians, but held
off the rest of the field to run a new personal best by three
seconds of 4:05.86. This moves her from 32nd to 23rd on the
overall World Rankings.
“I am extremely
happy with the new personal best,” says Stellingwerff.
“I feel that this really brings me to the next level
and will hopefully open some more doors for me to get into
the bigger races in the second half of the European season
in late August.”
Hilary will now
travel back to Canada for the National Championships in Ottawa
from on Aug. 4-6th.
For
full results in Thessaloniki click here>>
 
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