Aussie boys head to Europe in preparation for Worlds

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.athletics.com.au/fanzone/380 ... europe2007

All aboard the high flying ride to Osaka
World No. 1 and 2 Steve Hooker and Paul Burgess take to the skies this afternoon but this time they're not sailing over a bar six metres high in the air.

Today the pole vaulting duo will embark on a flight to their training base in Germany, the first stop in their 2007 European campaign, fully focused on two specific dates - August 30 and September 1. And one city – Osaka.

2006 was a breakthrough year for the Perth-based boys; Hooker added Commonwealth Games gold, the World Cup and a personal best of 5.96m in Berlin to his belt, whilst Burgess claimed victory in Donetsk, Osaka and Rome with the World Athletics Final title the icing on the cake.

Packing his bags for the six-week stint in Europe which kicks off in Germany at the Mannheim j-Gala meet this Saturday (June 23), Burgess is hoping that Osaka 2007 will be sixth-time lucky.

For given all the international success which the 27-year-old has tasted, Burgess has never actually competed at the IAAF World Championships.

"I’ve been to (world) indoors, but something’s always come up where I’ve not made it to the world champs.

"I pulled out of the running in 1997 and 1999, 2001 I didn’t get selected, 2003 I pulled out because I wasn’t in great shape and 2005 I was injured. It’s just been one thing after another, so this year I really want to get there.

"I can’t imagine it’s much different from the Olympics or any other major competition. The process, hype, build up and nervousness you feel in the lead up is all pretty similar."

Hooker ventured to Helsinki in 2005 but didn’t make it out of the qualifying round, marred by poor weather and an equipment malfunction that delayed the competition for more the 30 minutes.

"It’s a big advantage having the world champs in our time zone, which means we’ll get to do our final preparations at home, then only travel to Osaka three days prior to competition. We want to take full advantage of that and I want to win but there’s going to be a big battle between four to five guys," he explained.

"The international competition has stepped up from last year, the Germans (Otto, Schulze and Ecker) have jumped well indoors and Brad Walker put out some big results in Australia. Some guys are jumping around 5.80m already which you wouldn’t have seen this time last year.

"It’s on for young and old and there’s a few that will be putting the pressure on in the big meets, so it’s going to be an interesting year."

"The field will be wide open in Osaka," added Burgess.

"In pole vault you can’t predict who’ll win, even if you are a favourite, there are so many variables it’s not predictable."

Hooker’s preparation has been tainted slightly by injuries to his patella tendon in his right knee and also the tendons in his right ankle. With physiotherapist Jocelyn Young jumping on the European and Osaka pole vault bus, both niggles will be managed over the next six months.

"They’ve been longer term injuries and I decided now was the best time to get over them. I’ve spent a bit of time rehabbing those and getting them 100% right, so I can get through the season without much stress and have a good preparation towards the Olympics next year as well.

"I’ve also made a few technique adjustments over this last period, things I’ve wanted to change for a little while. Therefore I don’t expect my results will be as consistent as last year, but towards world champs and the Olympics I hope I’ll be more consistent.

"I want to give myself every chance of breaking the world record (Bubka’s 6.14m set in 1994) over the next couple of years. It won’t happen over the next months, but I’m trying to do everything I can do to make sure it does happen eventually."

So committed is Hooker to launching himself two-stories high in the air and chasing lost poles around the globe, he quit his 28-hour-a-week job at property developers Stockland ten weeks ago to concentrate on his chosen career.

"I felt the next 18 months were a real opportunity. It’s rare that you get to approach an Olympics or world champs where you’re right at the top of your game. I felt I had a lot more things to improve on, so I felt I’d be cheating myself if I didn’t give it a go.

"You realise how much more you can do with a full week. I’m doing a lot more recovery, I’m seeing the physio a lot more and I’m doing a greater number of smaller training sessions but better quality sessions."

Meanwhile Burgess, a keen surfer, whose country music-themed band has been hitting the Perth night-life of late, has had a fairly uninterrupted preparation and has clear objectives for the next two months.

"The main goal this year is to get a medal at world champs, a medal is much more important than a ranking.

"Of course I want to win elite comps when I can but the main thing is world champs, and not taking my eye off the main prize. However winning comps in the lead up will give me a mental edge and confidence leading into Osaka.

"Consistency and feeling confident that I can jump 5.80 or 5.85 or even higher (leading into Osaka), will give me the best chance of jumping high and getting a medal."

The duo will join fellow Alex Parnov-coached high fliers Kym Howe and Vicky Parnov in Germany with all four set to compete at Mannheim j-Gala this Saturday, a memorable meet for ‘Budgie’ who leapt an outstanding 5.92 metres last year to set him up for the remainder of the 2006 season.

Burgess and Hooker’s pre-Osaka schedule:
Athens GP - July 2
Lausanne SGP - July 10
Sheffield GP - July 15
Monaco SGP - July 25
Thessaloniki APM - July 30

[rainbowgirl28]

There is a podcast you can download here: http://www.athletics.com.au/5070

Burgess mentions Gio has been jumping well, and thinks the US trials are wide open (though he thinks Brad has a great shot).

The quality is not that great, but it's a fun listen.