RUNNER BREAKS 20-YEAR RECORD
Toowoomba runner takes home a 20-year record
This year has been a coming of age on the track for Carter Blades, and he brought up his finest hour at the Queensland School Championships last week.
Competing in the U13 400m event, the Downlands College student ran a scorching 52.08seconds time to claim the gold medal.
In the process, he wiped 0.13 seconds off the previous Queensland schools record held by Zane Palmer, a mark that has been standing for 20 years.
It caps off a big year for Blades who only began competing in the discipline 12 months ago.
He secured a berth at the club nationals in Sydney during his first run at 400m under the tutelage of coach Amanda Tolman.
Since then he has managed to shave six seconds off his personal best to where he is today, and he said the program had contributed to the achievement.
“The preparation was long and hard. I train four days a week including Sundays and after school during the week,” Blades said.
“I trained an extra day (per week) in the lead-up.
“We do lactic work for most of the training before a competition and then the last two weeks on speed to balance things out.”
Coming into the event, Blades said nerves had escaped him during the preliminary stages and allowed him to focus on his running time in the final.
“I thought I would be more nervous, but I wasn’t really,” he said.
“I ran in Sydney for the club nationals, and I think that’s why I wasn’t really as nervous.
“I was the third fastest qualifier, but I knew I could run faster because I did it pretty easy in the heats.”
For the final, Blades came up against a quality field, including 100m and 200m winner Jhariiah Taylor who was looking to add another gold medal to his tally.
“I went past a few people around the first 100 metres and I was able to pass the kid who won in Sydney at the 200 metre mark, which I was happy about,” he said. “By the time I had got to the 200, Jhariiah had passed me, but I pegged him back over the last 200.”
With a state gold medal and record to his name, Blades has the chance to secure another high-profile accolade next year. Currently 80-test Wallabies veteran Tim Horan holds the 14 years 400m record, however Blades’ time at the states would be enough to make it his own.