Gilligan readies for trek to Torun

RACING at this Saturday’s Bendigo Gift carnival plays a key part in Brett Gilligan’s build-up to a major athletics meet in Poland.

A second-year competitor on the Victorian Athletic League circuit, Gilligan will race in the Masters 100 metres at the Retreat Road track in Flora Hill.

From 26 March to 1 April, Gilligan will be in Torun, central Poland to compete in the pentathlon at World Masters indoor athletics championships.

His campaign in Poland will be 60-metre hurdles, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 1000-metre run.

“I have never competed in a 1000-metre race, so that’s going to be a challenge.”

Hurdles and jumps have been among his strongest legs throughout a lengthy stint in decathlons.

But on Saturday the focus is the 100-metre dash on a track where he has racked up hundreds of hours training and racing.

“It’s my second year on the VAL circuit and it’s been a lot of fun,” Gilligan said. “Flora Hill is a track I know really well.

“Racing under handicap conditions is a lot different to what I was used to. There’s the challenge of different surfaces, and bends in the lap races I have done.”

A season high was fourth placing in the 300 metres at Geelong’s Steampacker Reserve.

“It’s a really tight track and windy by being near the coast,” he said.

Home-track advantage is what Bendigo-based athletes will aim to capitalise on.

Among those racing will be Glenn Stephens in the Masters 100 and 300-metres.

Stephens marked the rare feat of being a Bendigo Thousand (120m) and Black Opal (400m) champion in BIM history.

Another long-time competitor in Greg Hilson will race the open 550 and 1600, and Masters 800 meters.

The field for the 550 meters includes Hilson’s second-eldest son, Jake.

Victorious in the open 800 meters at last year’s Bendigo Gift, Lonain Burnett will contest the City of Greater Bendigo-backed Bendigo Gift and the open 550 meters.

Also racing will be Oliver Muggleton in his first VAL meet in the Gift and 550, and Phil Noden, Masters 800 and open 1600 meters.