By RUSSELL BENNETT
HARKAWAY’S own Olympic track and field star Jeff Riseley has added another title to an already glittering sporting resume.
He won the 800-metres at the Adelaide Track Classic on Saturday night in a time of 1:46.52, defeating multiple national record holder Alex Rowe (1:47.36) in the process.
Riseley, a four-time national 1500-metre champion, is better known for his exploits in longer races but his performance on Saturday night turned plenty of heads.
Now 28-years-old, he competed in his second Olympic Games in London, after debuting at Beijing in 2008. He was selected in the 800-metres but, despite running an A-qualifying time in a Monaco lead-up event, wasn’t an automatic selection for the 1500-metres.
He was ultimately knocked out in the heats of the 800 in London – an event which Kenyan superstar David Rudisha won.
Four years earlier in Beijing he competed in the fastest 1500-metre heat in Olympic history, before missing out on the Delhi Commonwealth Games due to injury.
Riseley aims to win as many national titles as possible before he retires, and if his current form is any indication, he’s got plenty left in the tank yet.
Speaking with the Gazette on the eve of his last Olympic campaign, he credited his team of physio and massage therapists, training partners, doctors and his family for helping him reach his goals, but also keeping him grounded with some good old-fashioned sledging.
“My support network is the most important thing to my success,” he said.
“It’s an individual sport, but it’s team-oriented.
“I’m working with some of the best athletes in Australia.”
Saturday’s result was Riseley’s second consecutive win on the national circuit after taking out the 1500-metres at the Hunter Track Classic in January.
