Kaila is running home
On the run: Leongatha’s Kaila McKnight has a couple more races before she returns to Australia to focus on qualifying for the Olympic games team.
LEONGATHA’S Kaila McKnight is preparing to return to Australia, but the middle distance runner has a couple of races to go yet.
She tackled a 1500 metre race in Morocco over the weekend, and is now preparing for a road mile race down the famous fifth avenue in New York on September 24.
Upon returning Kaila will have a two-week ‘active’ rest before starting training for 2012.
The aim is the Olympics in London, and despite running in career best form, Kaila says she’s no certainty to be in the team.
“I’d like to think I’m in career best form at the moment as I ran within one second of my personal best last weekend in a less than ideal race,” she said.
“I am still not ensured selection until the trials in March 2012 back in Melbourne where I need to come top two, or win and hope the selectors pick me.”
“After returning to Australia and having a small break I can focus on getting as fit as possible firstly for those selection trials to ensure my spot on the Olympic team.”
Kaila says she has learnt a lot from competing in the world championships, picking up tactics and techniques she will be looking to implement in the future.
“As all the field are of very similar fitness and ability to be there in the first place, you have to execute good tactics, get the right position at the right time and have a little luck to get through the rounds,” she said.
Her preparation has been aided by state-of-the-art facilities in London where she is based.
“The training facilities are very good. I am lucky enough have access to one of the UK athletics endurance training centres and their facilities included a full gym and a track,” she said.
“However, we don’t have a single hill, it’s completely flat and that’s what I miss most about my training in South Gippsland.”
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