Tassie teen sprint ace eyes PB power boost

TEENAGE Tasmanian sprint star Jack Hale is confident he can use added size and power to nail an individual berth at the Commonwealth Games by running a personal best time.

Hale burst on to the scene as a 16-year-old in 2014 when he clocked 10.13 over 100m in Adelaide. That time was achieved with an illegal tailwind, but he officially became the fastest Australian junior sprinter of all time when he clocked a PB of 10.21 in Ger- many in 2016. Now 19, Hale had a quiet 2017 campaign after deciding to focus on training instead of competitions.

Hale estimates he has put on between 5-8kg since March last year, and he hopes the extra power will help him slash his times in the 100m sprint.

His progress will be put to the test when he fronts up for the Perth Track Classic at the WA Athletics Stadium tonight.

Olympic champion Sally Pearson will headline the meeting in her pet event, the 100m hurdles.

Hale hopes to run a 10.20 in the 100m flat if he receives a nice tail wind. And if everything comes together, he might produce the A-qualifier time of 10.15 needed to secure an individual berth at April’s Commonwealth Games.

“I’ve had a lot of gains throughout training,” Hale said. “That mindset of being able to back off and really nail an off-season instead of racing through it has been the best thing for me.

“Putting on that sort of weight has changed my force output on the track like crazy.

“I think I’m in a position right now to PB if I get on a nice track with some good competition.”

Hale made the move from Tasmania to Melbourne last year so he could be closer to his coach Adam Larcom.