Jessica Halloran
May 2, 2007
Non-starter … sprinter Patrick Johnson.
Photo: Getty Images
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AdvertisementAUSTRALIA’S only sub-10 second sprinter, Patrick Johnson, has been left out of the world championship relay squad because he would not commit to Athletics Australia’s training program.
As a result, Johnson will not run in the 4 x 100 metres relay at World Athletics Tour meeting in Osaka this Saturday, a selection trial for the world athletics championships, leaving team members Josh Ross and Adam Miller disappointed by his omission.
Athletics Australia’s chief selector, Peter Fitzgerald, said Australia’s fastest man “clearly” did not satisfy the 4 x 100m selection criteria.
“One of the eligibility requirements was to sign a commitment to the relay program, and that you make that commitment,” Fitzgerald said. "The relay coaches came to us with rankings and, at the end of the day, their view was for a number of reasons [that] Patrick Johnson didn’t rate in the top six to eight nominations. We took their advice.
“Patrick was the only one who was an omission that we would’ve picked off the list because of how fast he is. We questioned them [the relay coaches] intensely about how the sprinters were ranked, and the end of the day, we were satisfied.”
Potential relay team members were ranked on a number of criteria, including: commitment to the program, raw speed, their ability to pass and receive the baton, and ability to work within the group.
However, Johnson’s manager, Clive Stephens, said the sprinter was committed and available to represent Australia whenever he was needed. “If the selection committee wish to include him closer to the world championships and the relays, then Patrick Johnson is always available,” Stephens said. “From Patrick’s perspective, he is always committed.”
Fitzgerald said there had been some tension surrounding Johnson’s level of commitment.
“The feedback I have got is there is a disagreement between Patrick, his coach and the relay coaches to exactly what his position is,” Fitzgerald said. “But they [the relay coaches] have rated him on all of those matters - his ability to work with the group, his commitment to the program and ability to do so - but it’s not a secret, clearly, that he doesn’t rate very high on those points as far as they are concerned.”
Fitzgerald also added that AA could use its discretion to add athletes to a relay team at any point closer to the world championships.
Relay team members Miller and Ross are disappointed that Johnson will not be running with them at the world championship relay trials this weekend in Osaka. Other members of the squad are Aaron Rouge Serret, Steven Tucker, Tim Williams.
Miller said not having Australia’s fastest man in the team was a huge blow. “It’s a hard situation,” he said. “Patrick is a very, very talented runner, and he’d be a great asset to any team. He’s still the fastest Australian ever, with 9.93 seconds. He’s an amazing athlete.”
