Drafted into Bolt’s All Stars team

I had just ticked off another 150km training week at Falls Creek in Victoria, Australia, and was working towards my next race the B&E Hobart Run the Bridge on February 19 when I got a surprise but welcomed call.

It was notice to say I’d be competing in Coles Nitro Athletics Melbourne as a member of Usain Bolt’s All Stars team. We would be competing against teams from Australia, New Zealand, England, China and Japan at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne.

A huge opportunity for me, but with the longest event on the track being the mile elimination race, it was going to be tough going.

The last time I competed at Lakeside Stadium was when I completed 25 laps to win the Zatopek 10k in December. This time, four laps will be the longest distance I will cover.

Three races in one week, and just a week to prepare, I needed to get ready to go fast.

Meeting Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell have to be one of my lifetime and career highlights.

They have such incredible energy and it’s so contagious.

On the first night of the Nitro competition, February 4, we were all cheering on our team mates to gain the most points for the evening.

I was happy with my third place in the three-minute race, covering about 1100m.

With names like Bolt, Powell and Kerron Clements, to name a few, cheering me on the sidelines, I felt a little pressure to do well.

The second night of the competition, February 9, was a night for me to forget.

The elimination mile was on my programme and after being really boxed in with 100m to go on lap 1, I had to run really wide. With an almighty sprint, I thought I was clear.

But Bolt’s team was called out over the loudspeaker to be eliminated.

They called me out. But after I stopped, looked up at the board to see, they had made a mistake over the loudspeaker and really Japan was to be eliminated.

Literally the worst night of my life as I completely let down two of my sporting heroes.

To make matters worse I was told to get back on the track, which was a complete disadvantage to the other athletes as I had run one less lap, and was then pulled from the sidelines once again before the finish line.

A complete catastrophe and on international television.

I amsure now that Usain Bolt will never forget me.

Moving on now and I am looking forward to the year ahead with races in America and Europe, and training camps up at Mt Laguna.

Alongside my work in athletics, I have been accepted into post graduate study at Massey University where I will complete my Psychology Honours – part time.

One constant in the many uncertainties that come with being an elite athlete.

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