ATHLETICS
By ERIKA ALLEN
TIMELINES in athletics can feel as fleeting as a 100-metre sprint, where early success often sets the pace. But for Elly Fleming, the move from junior to senior ranks has broadened her perspective.
Fleming, from Glengarry, competed in her first open Australian Athletics Championships at Sydney Olympic Park last month. As she rubbed shoulders with Olympians and raced against them, she made a point of taking the experience all in her stride.
“So many times I’ve gone out for a race, stepped off the track and thought, ‘what happened?’ It’s literally over in the blink of an eye,” she said.
Similarly, an athlete’s junior career can pass in a flash, with Fleming telling the Express before qualifying for nationals at the Victorian championships in March that she hoped more young athletes had the presence of mind to enjoy the ride while they’re in it.
In Sydney, Fleming made a conscious decision to slow it all down – mentally.
“A huge focus for me at the championships was to just be so present … and grateful to actually be in that position,” she said – a mindset evident in the moments before her 800 metre heat.
“When I was lining up in the tunnel before I went out for my heat race, I was obviously extremely nervous. But then I had a thought to myself to just smile, have so much fun.
“And it was almost a bit of a celebration, I suppose, throughout the season, to actually get to that point.”
Now 20, Fleming is beginning to understand the long game in a sport where attrition can be high between the junior and senior ranks.
“I suppose juniors are an interesting age level,” Fleming said.
“When I was younger, I kind of thought that I was already older than most … a lot of the juniors I was training with started at really high levels between eight and 12-years-old, and that’s not really the way that I developed as an athlete.
“For me, it was a lot later.
“I was told a lot by Denis (Huffer), my coach, and by my dad in particular, that the peak of middle-distance runners, or even track runners in general, is usually in their 20s.
“So now, being 20 and competing in open age, it’s given me a good perspective on the fact that you don’t have to be at your peak at 12 or 13.
“The longevity in the sport is so much more than that.”
Fleming’s journey began like many others, as a six-year-old at Little Athletics. She continued through to the under 17 level as she carved out her identity in the sport. Initially competing in jumping events, she later transitioned to the track, representing Victoria at the national junior level multiple times from the age of 15.
She’s as hungry as ever to compete since transitioning to open age, understanding that growth will come, having reflected on the differences between the junior and senior levels.
“I think we have this pressure placed on ourselves … when you’re younger, to think that you have to do everything right then and there. If you’re not at the national level at that age, then you’re never going to achieve it.
“Even at my age now, it’s easy to kind of fall into comparisons and be like if I’m not representing Australia yet, then I won’t be able to do that.
“It’s just not really reality because everyone develops and flourishes at different times and learns racing through different experiences.
“I think everyone’s path is so different, and you really come to recognise that by competing at the opens.”
Another noteworthy difference Fleming experienced was athlete-to-athlete support.
“A key difference that stood out to me at the opens is just the pure appreciation athlete-to-athlete,” she said.
“We all know that, whether you’re lining up to win your eighth national title or coming into your first championship like me, it’s still nerve-wracking.”
The calibre of athletes wasn’t just national champions, but Olympians, who used the national championships to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in July this year.
“It’s very rare that you get to line up in races with world championship medallists and Olympic medallists and people that are racing internationally all over the world, just in the Australian domestic season,” Fleming said.
Rather than shy away from that level of competition, Fleming hoped an Olympian – either Claudia Hollingsworth or Jess Hull – would be in her heat race to set a fast pace.
“I knew they would get the race moving so that we would all be in single file, really neat running, so that I could actually go through for a good time,” she said.
Of the two, only Hollingsworth backed up from the dramatic 1500m final the night before, which ended in shock when Hull fell in the final straight and Hollingsworth was initially stripped of the title, only to have it reinstated the morning of the 800m heats.
“Given the circumstances of the day before … and I’m assuming a difficult mental state at that point in time, she was still very in tune with herself.
“On the track, she showed no signs of lacking confidence whatsoever, given that she still progressed through the round and final so well,” Fleming said.
“That was a huge takeaway for me, in being able to block out the external noise, which can come from any form, not just the media.
“You might have a fall, or you’re warming up, and something might not quite go to plan. But ultimately, you have to line up because we’ve worked so hard to be there, so you’ve got to be able to adjust and make sure your mental game is as strong as possible.
“Even if some external things are going on.”
While focused on her own preparation, Fleming took in everything around her, from warm-ups to race execution.
“I observed the way they carried themselves … and I think I took a lot from that for myself, and how I hope to carry my confidence through in other championships.”
After progressing strongly to the heats, qualifying second-fastest with a 2:09.35-minute preliminary run, Fleming lined up in the third heat from lane two. Hollingsworth rounded out the field in lane nine.
“I said to myself that as long as I could walk away and say that I had raced my best race, I would have been really thrilled,” she said.
Fleming got exactly that, and more, with a personal best time of 2:08.16 minutes.
“I was thrilled when I crossed the line … and I actually didn’t know that I had run a PB straight away,” she said.
“I just thought, ‘that felt good’.”
It wasn’t until moments later, when a friend in the crowd confirmed it, that the result sank in.
“Before I even knew about that, I was already so proud to be there … if I could control the nerves and still look like I was having fun, that was a huge win for me.”
Off the track, Fleming’s development is just as evident. Travelling independently to the championships, as her younger sister Kaydence was preparing to compete at the junior championships in Brisbane the following week, Fleming embraced the responsibility of managing her own preparation.
“I was keen to do it independently … I think that helped a bit with my nerves,” she said.
“I could just organise my own things – even knowing what I felt like for dinner – it all helped.”
That independence extends to her meticulous recovery routine, a reflection of the discipline required to compete at the highest level.
“I do pretty much the same recovery routine every night … six to seven times a week,” she said.
“So when it comes to backing up from a race, it’s not necessarily anything different.
“If I can do a hard session on a Monday and run again on Tuesday, why can’t I run two 800s in 48 hours? Of course I can.”
After a short break, Fleming will jump straight back into training in preparation for the European track season, as she and a small training group travel overseas to compete.
Fleming usually trains through winter, but in June, she will travel to France to compete in four races across Europe. They include three 800m and a 1000m at The Herculis – an annual track and field meet at the famous Stade Louis II, Monaco.
After this particular race, the group will spectate the Diamond League event held at the track.
“Hopefully I can capitalise on these few weeks to train really well again and get some more distance in my legs and perform really well overseas,” Fleming said, as she embarks on another new experience.
