Personal best for Tauranga runner

Julian Oakley at a recent race meet in Boston. Supplied photo.

Tauranga runner Julian Oakley has smashed another personal best at a race meet in Boston last weekend.

The 24-year-old not only won the race, but achieved a record-breaking personal best, with a time of 3:55.10.

The achievement was won at the Valentine Invitational race at Boston University.

'I'm very pleased with the race,” says Julian. 'I think it is a reflection of the work I have put in over the last few months.

'The track is 200m long with banked bends - so just over eight laps for a mile.

'I prepared just like any other race but I think my training has gone up a level this last year and I have been hitting some solid workouts which indicated I was ready for a fast one.

Julian is currently living in Providence, only an hour from the track, and studying for an MBA in finance.

'They host a lot of indoor meets each week and I think it's the fastest track in America with a great atmosphere. I always love racing there.

'One of the best parts of racing in the United States is the quality of competition that you get every time you race. It's a good field to race on, where six guys broke four minutes.

'The biggest challenge for me is just making sure that I get out well and follow the moves made by the other runners.

'I got a little boxed in with 600m to go but I closed well, which is always good.”

He says his ultimate goal is to reach representative and Olympic level.

'I am trying to go as far as I can with the sport. Representing New Zealand is the highlight for any athlete, so my main going is always to represent New Zealand and World Championships and the Olympics.

'Right now the only thing I am preparing for is the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham. After that I'll get ready for the outdoor season.”

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