Athletics New Zealand – News – Rookie Flanagan looks for top performance

Steeplechase rookie Rosa Flanagan hopes to overcome a lack of experience and produce a top-class performance when competing for New Zealand at the IAAF World Junior Championships, which take place in Eugene, Oregon July 23-28 (NZ time). Steve Landells talks to the steeplechase Rookie ahead of the championships.

The 18-year-old University of Canterbury athlete was one of the stand out stars of the New Zealand domestic season, posting no less than four national junior 3000m steeplechase records in her first ever season competing in the event.

Rosa secured five wins in her six steeplechase outings earlier this year, setting her current national junior record time of 9:56.98 in Melbourne, which elevates her to number two – behind Kate McIlroy (9:32.54) – on the all-time NZ senior lists and No.7 on the 2014 World Junior rankings.

“I’m excited to be competing at World Junior although there is a little bit of pressure trying to live up to my world ranking,” explains Rosa, who also competed in a couple of 2000m steeplechase races at the end of last year.

“I set a massive PB competing in Melbourne. The race there didn’t feel that fast, so I’m excited and looking forward to competing with the world’s best juniors in Eugene.”

The former Rangi Ruru Girls’ School student competed at the 2013 World Youth Championships in Donetsk where she failed to advance from her 1500m heat.

In discussion with her coach, Maria Hassan, it was decided that changing events and focusing on the 3000m steeplechase held good possibilities.

“We thought it was something a little bit different and that the times for World Junior qualification were quite achievable,” explains Rosa, whose training partners include Commonwealth Games bound 800m runner Angie Smit.

Admitting she has surprised herself how well the switch has gone, the part-time human nutrition student at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology has also excelled despite a lack of steeplechase jumping facilities in the city.

Without a synthetic track in Christchurch following the earthquake damage sustained to the QEII Stadium means her jumping technique has been honed by leaping over hurdles in the gym rather than barriers. Meanwhile, even occasional training trips to Timaru to work on her technique have not run smoothly.

“The water jump at the Timaru track has been out of action, so we’ve had to put some high jump mats where the water should be and practised that way,” adds Rosa.

Nonetheless, the teenager believes the most important element to thriving in the steeplechase is to put in the hard work between the barriers and on that front her preparations could not have gone any better.

Gym work has also been introduced into her programme for the first time – to allowing her body to withstand the rigours of the steeplechase. Meanwhile, her competitive edge has been sharpened with a series of eye-catching displays on the cross country circuit.

To perform with distinction in Eugene she’ll have to overcome a heat followed by a final for the first time in her fledgling career. So what is the young Kiwi’s hoping to achieve in the cauldron of the biggest competition of her life?

“The first step is to get into the final and then it would be awesome to run a PB,” adds Rosa, whose mother and father – Juliet and Chris and grandmother and grandfather- Vilma and Warren – will be attending the meet.

“Yes, I’ve never had to run a heat before but should I make the final, I just have to make sure I rest up and save as much energy as possible,” adds Rosa who is experiencing her very first visit to North America.

If she needs a lucky omen, Rosa could do worse than look at the performance at the same Hayward Field venue as her fellow Kiwi Julia Ratcliffe last month. There the Hamilton hammer thrower landed the NCAA title at the revered US athletics hotspot and the Cantabrian is relishing the prospect of competing in the place they call “Track Town.”

“I actually watched the Diamond League meet in May at the venue,” adds Rosa. “I remember watching the woman’s steeplechase on the TV thinking it will be pretty cool to think I’ll be competing there at the home of Nike.”

In recent days, Rosa has improved her personal best times for both 1500 (4:16.65) and 3000 (9:12.99) in Canada where the team is preparing for the World Junior Championships.

New Zealand is sending a team of three athletes to the World Junior Championships. We offer a brief fact file on the trio.

 

Rosa Flanagan
Resides: Christchurch
Club: Canterbury University
Event: Women’s 3000m steeplechase
Coach: Maria Hassan
Age: 18
PB: 9:56.98
SB: 9:56.98
2014 World Junior Ranking: 8th
When Competes: Heats July 25 5.05am. Final July 27 11.55am.

Eliza McCartney
Resides: Auckland
Club:North Harbour Bays
Event: Women’s Pole Vault
Coach: Jeremy McColl
Age: 17
PB: 4.15 (outdoors) 4.27 (indoors)
SB: 4.15 (outdoors) 4.27 (indoors)
2014 World Junior Ranking: 4.15 = joint 18th (4.27 = joint 6th).
When Competes: Qualification July 23 5.30am. Final July 25 1pm.

Pascal Kethers
Resides: Auckland
Club:North Harbour Bays
Event: Men’s Pole Vault
Coach: Jeremy McColl
Age: 18
PB: 5.10
SB: 5.05
2014 World Junior Ranking: Joint 41st
When Competes: Qualification July 25 5.25am. Final July 27 9.30am.