INDEPENDENT NEWS

Commonwealth Games aspirant Camille Buscomb ready

Published: Tue 4 Feb 2014 04:50 PM
It sounds strange but two-time defending women’s 1500m champion Camille Buscomb won’t be “really mad” if she doesn’t qualify for this year’s Commonwealth Games at the Porritt Classic in Hamilton this Saturday.
That’s because the Porritt Classic will represent the first time the Cambridge-based runner will compete in the 1500m since April last year and is being used as preparation for a series of races in Australia this month and in March which she is hoping to use to secure her passage to Glasgow.
“Porritt is still a qualifying chance [for the Commonwealth Games], but I’m not going to be really mad if I don’t qualify,” says Buscomb, who is looking to crack the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team in the 1500m and 5000m.
“I’ve got a few races in Australia which are my main focus to do the qualifying times. For this race, I haven’t put pressure on myself to do a qualifying time because it’s my first [1500m] race of the season.
“Training is going really well. I’m running fast and am fit but I won’t know how well things are going until I compete.”
Camille Buscomb heads into the Porritt Classic in good touch after winning the 3000m title at the Capital Classic in Wellington last month.
While disappointed double Commonwealth Games silver medallist Nikki Hamblin has withdrawn from the Porritt Classic due to injury, she’ll still face stiff competition from 800m runner Angie Smit (Canterbury) and Auckland’s Katie Wright.
“There’s going to be good competition, so I’ll have people to push me to get a good time or a PB,” says Buscomb.
All going to plan, Buscomb is aiming for a time between 4min, 10sec and 4min, 12sec as she looks to defend the title she has won for the past two years.
“I want to have a really good race under me so I have some confidence that I can do really well … but because it’s my first race you can’t necessarily expect amazing things.”
She feels the Porritt Classic will be a good chance to gauge where she is at ahead of her four upcoming races in Australia, starting with the Adelaide Track Classic next Saturday.
“I’m really looking forward to it as it will be the first 1500 I have done since April last year.
“Some of the longer races are more tactical whereas this race everyone wants to run fast. It will be good to see where everyone is because they’ll be going hard the whole way.”
Buscomb’s partner Cameron French, who also has Commonwealth Games aspirations, will be in action in the 400m hurdles.
French’s two main rivals, Daniel O’Shea and Michael Cochrane, will line up in that race as well.
“That’s his first big race with competition,” says Buscomb.
“Those three guys are right up there nationally … so it will be a really good race for him.”
French’s race at the Porritt Classic is at 4.10pm, while Buscomb will take to the track at 7.10pm.
Camille Buscomb is sponsored by Hamilton-based social media and PR company MediaPA, New Balance, Hamilton-based Argent Motor Lodge, hairdressers The Engine Room, Waikato Chiropractic, Lions Clubs and the Health Performance Chiropractic.
ENDS

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