By LIAM TWOMEY
ONE of Australia’s fastest men is on his way to Brimbank.
Two time Stawell Gift winner Josh Ross will be the man to beat when he takes to the track for this year’s St Albans Gift.
Having previously lived in St Albans, Ross said he is looking forward to competing in the big race.
“It is going to be exciting to go back there and have a run,” he said.
“I’ve never run in a St Albans Gift before so it is going to be a new experience for me.
“I wasn’t with any club at that stage (when I lived in St Albans). I was trying out for the NFL so I wasn’t doing athletics when I was living there.”
Ross enters the race in brilliant form after taking out the Bay Sheffield Gift earlier this month.
In an ominous warning to his rivals, he plans to go even faster this year and is hoping to break the magical 10 second barrier over 100 metres.
“I’m in the best shape of my life both mentally and physically,” he said.
“When you’re in the best shape of your life you are always looking forward to running.
“I’m working towards breaking 10 seconds and I don’t think I’m far off, given that my relay leg at the London Olympics was 9.04 which equates to roughly a 10 flat to 10.05 run.
“I’m definitely close to breaking that mark, 10 seconds is definitely my goal.”
The St Albans Gift will take place on Saturday 19 January, with the first races beginning at 3.30pm.
After great feedback from athletes and race goers last year, St Albans Sports Club’s Des Barnard said organisers are looking forward to another big year.
“We are trying to build it up and make it bigger and better each year,” he said.
“This will be the fifth running of it and we just want to keep on improving it. Then in another year or two down the track we will be able to incorporate something else into the package, some other form of entertainment.”
Over 500 athletes are expected to compete on the day across nine events on the program, while Ross will also conduct a clinic with Little Athletics participants.
While winning St Albans is his immediate goal, Ross is also hoping to create his own slice of history at the Stawell Gift later this year.
“I haven’t looked at the Aussie program calendar as yet but if Stawell doesn’t clash with anything else I would love to go back and try and win it three times,” he said.
“No man has done that before and that would definitely put me at the top of the mountain.
