LAST weekend King Island born, Tokyo Olympic finalist in 1500m, current world Number 3, Stewart McSweyn returned to Victoria to avenge his close second in his last Beachside Gift run.
The Gift is one of Australia’s preeminent athletic events. McSweyn started from scratch in the handicapped 3200m race as part of preparation for the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst on February 18.
McSweyn’s preparation – handicapped races on grass – is in contrast with other members of Australia’s 28-strong team for the World Cross Country Championships, who have lined up to compete on the road in the Maragume half marathon in Japan.
The William Buck 2 Mile Championship for Men at the Gift was run just inside the boundary line of the AFL ground at Mentone Reserve – an undulating surface that was not fast underfoot.
McSweyn picked up the rest of the field and had a sprint finish with rising distant talent Jude Thomas, and finished four seconds behind the winner. Logan Janetzki who was running off a generous mark of 220m took out second.
McSweyn headlines Australia’s 4x2km relay team in Bathurst and Janetzki will take on the world’s best junior distance runners at the World Cross Country Championships.