Hogan Eyes Home Comforts
Emerging WAIS javelin thrower Cruz Hogan has thrown down a marker ahead of this weekend’s Perth Track Classic, claiming a WA State title and setting a Commonwealth Games B-Qualifier in the process.
Hogan, who will celebrate his 20th birthday on the same day as the Perth Track Classic this Saturday, becomes the sixth Australian man to boast the Commonwealth Games ‘B’ Standard after he threw 72.76m to win the Western Australian title on Sunday.
Ensuring that the men’s javelin is now the most hotly contested event on the Australian athletics event schedule, Hogan joins the already qualified Matt Outzen (NSW), Luke Cann (VIC)m Ben Baker (NSW) and Josh Robinson (Qld), as well as IAAF World Championships debutant Hamish Peacok (TAS).
Importantly for Hogan, though, is that his opening qualifier came from his first competition of the year and after a rocky summer of training that has seen niggling injury and a hampered training environment due to the track at the WA Athletics Stadium being replaced.
“Competition on the weekend was my first this year and it was great to get back out there. Athletes say it a bit, but I genuinely wasn’t expecting to perform as well as I did and it’s a big boost before the Perth meet on Saturday. It’s given me motivation to have a real crack against the boys that are coming over, and just to trust that I have done the work to throw something that warrants the attention of other athletes in my event,” Hogan said.
“I didn’t expect it to go as well as it did because training has been a little bit up and down. I’ve had a couple of niggling injuries and the track over here has been being replaced for a while so we have had to train on grass which has been a little unusual.
“Since we have come back to the stadium things have turned around though. The surface is bouncy and it has been so much easier to throw a good session compared to before it was repaired and when we threw on grass.
A training partner of IAAF World Championships silver medallistKimMickle(WA), Hogan made the move to work withGrantWardthree years ago. He sees Mickle and her work ethic as an athlete as an inspiration, and believes he has dramatically improved as an athlete since changing his training program under the guidance of the Athletics Australia Coach of the Year.
“I’m very lucky to have a training partner in Kim. She’s my idol when it comes to my athletics, that’s for sure, and you can’t fault the commitment she has to improving and being her best,” Hogan added.
As well praising his training partner, Hogan also commended his coach Grant Ward, who he credited with making him a better and stronger athlete.
“Grant has been such an awesome influence on me too. My technique has improved so much since I began working with him three years ago and I am a stronger and more capable athlete. He’s taken me from being a bit hit and miss to someone that can throw a Commonwealth Games Qualifier so I certainly can’t complain.”
The Go for 2&5 Perth Track Classic is the first of three events that form the 2014 Australian Athletics Tour, with the Sydney Track Classic and the IAAF Melbourne World Challenge to follow in March.
-Athletics Australia