Recently I have spent some time reading about the history of the sport and the many genuinely great runners that have graced professional running tracks all over Australia for the last 110 years.
A lot of great runners have been forgotten about over the years so it’s time to give them the due recognition they deserve.
I thought about putting together a team of the century for the hundred years between 1st January 1900 and 31st December 1999.
So starting in August, over a 10-week period I’ll name my Australian Pro-Track team of the century. This team will be chosen as if I had to select a team to represent Australia in a country of origin pro-running meet against the Rest of the World.
It will consist of 20 athletes and 2 coaches.
The 20 athletes will be made up of the following:
2 athletes per each of the 8 categories below:
75yds / 70 mtrs
130yds / 120 mtrs
220 yds / 200 mtrs
440 yds / 400 mtrs
600 yds / 550 mtrs
880 yds / 800 mtrs
1 mile / 1600 mtrs
2 miles / 3200 mtrs
The remaining four athletes will be first reserves and be known for their versatility, ability to rise for the big occasion and those one can turn to if one of the ‘first sixteen’ became ill or injured.
The coaches will be one for sprints and one for middle distance.
I did think a lot about having a female contingent but that makes it difficult as women pro running events were not held on a regular basis until the amateurs and pro’s got together in 1985. There were a few women’s pro running races back in the 1920’s but little evidence of regular organised pro-running races for the women until the 1980’s.
At a later date I may look at a list of the best women pro-runners of the last 25 years.
This is how the team will take shape -
Wed 4th August: 75yds / 70 mtrs & 2 miles / 3200 mtrs
Wed 11th August: 220 yds / 200 mtrs & 600 yds / 550 mtrs
Wed 18th August: 880 yds / 800 mtrs
Wed 25th August: 440 yds / 400 mtrs
Wed 1st September: 1 mile / 1600 mtrs
Wed 8th September: 120m / 130 yards
Wed 15th September: 2 Reserves (400m to 1600m)
Wed 22nd September: 2 Reserves (Scr to 400m)
Wed 29th September: Coaches: 2 - 1 for Sprints & 1 for Distance
Wed 6th October: Captain & Pro-Track Athlete of the Century.
Period: 1st January 1900 and 31st December 1999.
If anyone has some ideas on who should be nominated, by all means post an opinion or comment.
Each weekend preceding the Wednesday, the 12 nominations for the event coming up will be announced.
A lot of great runners have been forgotten about over the years so it’s time to give them the due recognition they deserve.
I thought about putting together a team of the century for the hundred years between 1st January 1900 and 31st December 1999.
So starting in August, over a 10-week period I’ll name my Australian Pro-Track team of the century. This team will be chosen as if I had to select a team to represent Australia in a country of origin pro-running meet against the Rest of the World.
It will consist of 20 athletes and 2 coaches.
The 20 athletes will be made up of the following:
2 athletes per each of the 8 categories below:
75yds / 70 mtrs
130yds / 120 mtrs
220 yds / 200 mtrs
440 yds / 400 mtrs
600 yds / 550 mtrs
880 yds / 800 mtrs
1 mile / 1600 mtrs
2 miles / 3200 mtrs
The remaining four athletes will be first reserves and be known for their versatility, ability to rise for the big occasion and those one can turn to if one of the ‘first sixteen’ became ill or injured.
The coaches will be one for sprints and one for middle distance.
I did think a lot about having a female contingent but that makes it difficult as women pro running events were not held on a regular basis until the amateurs and pro’s got together in 1985. There were a few women’s pro running races back in the 1920’s but little evidence of regular organised pro-running races for the women until the 1980’s.
At a later date I may look at a list of the best women pro-runners of the last 25 years.
This is how the team will take shape -
Wed 4th August: 75yds / 70 mtrs & 2 miles / 3200 mtrs
Wed 11th August: 220 yds / 200 mtrs & 600 yds / 550 mtrs
Wed 18th August: 880 yds / 800 mtrs
Wed 25th August: 440 yds / 400 mtrs
Wed 1st September: 1 mile / 1600 mtrs
Wed 8th September: 120m / 130 yards
Wed 15th September: 2 Reserves (400m to 1600m)
Wed 22nd September: 2 Reserves (Scr to 400m)
Wed 29th September: Coaches: 2 - 1 for Sprints & 1 for Distance
Wed 6th October: Captain & Pro-Track Athlete of the Century.
Period: 1st January 1900 and 31st December 1999.
If anyone has some ideas on who should be nominated, by all means post an opinion or comment.
Each weekend preceding the Wednesday, the 12 nominations for the event coming up will be announced.
Last edited by youngy on Thu Sep 02, 2010 4:49 pm; edited 1 time in total