Canberra runner Brett Robinson says Australia will assemble its strongest team ever and can produce a maiden medal at the world cross country championships in March.
Robinson won the Australian trials for the world championships in Denmark after finishing nine seconds clear of the field over 10km at Mt Stromlo on Sunday.
Brett Robinson believes Australia can medal at the world cross country championships in March.Credit:AAP
The 27-year-old said he felt strong on his home course and now wants a team medal on the world stage alongside Jack Rayner and Harry Summers, who rounded at the podium in Canberra.
The first four runners across the line from each country accumulate a team score and Robinson believes Australia has the depth to clinch a medal on March 30.
"The Australian men have never medalled at worlds but this year would be our best chance, we've always had good runners but we need four strong performances," Robinson said.
"We've never had enough to make up a really good team but this year we have four guys with the potential to be in the top 25, which could get us on the podium.
It's hard to compete with the African teams but America did it in 2013 when the course was muddy, which favours the non-Africans.
"So hopefully it's a cold and muddy and a terrible course which brings the field together, the Kenyans would absolutely fly on a course like Stromlo and flog us.
"Rayner and I have now automatically qualified and there are four more spots. Pat Tiernan and Stuey McSweyn should get picked, then Harry Summers was third today so he should be there too."
Meanwhile, Paralympian Jaryd Clifford is gunning for the able-bodied crown when he faces a strong field, including his coach Philo Saunders, in the 1500m at the Canberra Track Classic on Monday.
Despite being vision impaired, Clifford qualified for the able-bodied under-20 world championships and the 19-year-old holds the 1500m T12 world record of 3:45.18.
"With vision impairment, you're still physically able to take it to the able-bodied guys and I love getting in there and trying to scalp them," Clifford said.
"The main challenge is I can't see the person in front of me unless they're directly in front of me so often I’ll have no idea how fast I'm running or what position I'm in.
"So I won't know what tactics to employ because I don't know where the race is at situation wise. Physically I'm not too bad at getting around but tactically I'm disadvantaged.
"It can actually be a blessing sometimes not knowing how quick you're running because you can't really be controlled by these preconceived notions of what your ability is, you just have to run as quick as you can."
CANBERRA TRACK CLASSIC
Monday: AIS Track, 1pm-5pm.
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