Kaila is off to London
Olympic selection: Kaila McKnight has been named this week on the Australian athletics team for the London Olympics.
KAILA McKnight has been named this week in the Australian squad for the London Olympics following her win in the 1500 metres at the Qantas Melbourne Track Classic and Olympic Trials on Saturday night.
The selection is a dream come true for 25-year-old Kaila who has been training for years to gain Olympic selection.
Despite limited training due to blisters, Kaila won the race over another highly fancied runner, Zoe Buckman. Training partners McKnight and Zoe Buckman, both Victorians thrilled the 4000 strong crowd with a close finish. While Buckman had looked good for the win down the home straight, McKnight managed to beat her to the line to take the race in 4:10.52, followed by Buckman in 4:10.62. Both runners are expected to be named in the team for London.
According to Kaila’s parents Don and Cathy McKnight, they weren’t expecting Kaila to win due to her limited training, but were delighted when they saw her come home.
Despite being almost five seconds outside her personal best, her effort has come under notice by the selectors. The time wasn’t an “A” qualifying time but Kaila already has one “A” qualifying time, gained at the World Championships in Daegu, Korea last year when she clocked her personal best of 4:05.65. Athletes are usually required to have two “A” qualifying times, however Kaila has been named along with 30 other athletes including hurdler Sally Pearson.
Don McKnight told The Star that Kaila had only started back training in the past few weeks after getting blisters during a race run in scorching heat.
“Kaila was doing a lot of cross training, swimming and bike work, but wasn’t running a lot until recently,” Don said.
For those athletes still aiming for Olympics they have until June 11 to post the qualifying times needed to join the team.
Kaila is currently concentrating her full resources on training for the London Games in July and was training on Monday with the VIS in Melbourne prior to undergoing altitude training at Falls Creek for three weeks.
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