Pair start Games build-up on Coast

RIO Olympians Luke Matthews and Sam McEntee will light up the night miles at this year’s Christmas Carnival series as they look to round out Commonwealth Games preparations in style.

While Matthews returns after experiencing the carnival atmosphere two years ago, McEntee will be making his maiden voyage to the Coast.

Matthews ran at Devonport and Burnie in the 2015-16 series, and soon after became the first Australian to quality for the 800m and 1500m at the same Olympics since Pat Scammell.

“I’m really looking forward to this year’s carnivals. I participated in them two years ago, but unfortunately missed out on the most recent ones. I still have a bit of unfinished business, so I’ll be trying my best to get the win,” he said.

“This type of running is a completely unique experience. There’s no getting comfortable. You’re constantly on the edge of your threshold. You’re always chasing, you’re always under the pump. I love racing like that.”

His impressive rise has continued into 2017, winning his 1500m heat at the IAAF world championships in London and will end the year as Australia’s fastest miler with a 3min 54.53sec set at the Prefontaine meeting in Orgeon.

Olympic 5000m runner McEntree is a relatively unknown quantity in Australia, having been based in the US since 2011.

He will return to the country this week and will go headto-head with Matthews.

“I’ve run the Commonwealth Games qualifier for both the 5000 and 1500 and in recent years haven’t had many opportunities over the shorter distance, so I’m looking to use these mile races as a stepping stone to what will be a quality 1500m field come trials time,” he said.