“I think Ingebrigtsen was like nine days earlier than what I would have done today but obviously, it could have been cool to like do it in maybe early February, but just didn’t really fit in with the timetable,” Myers said.
“It’s a really big confidence booster for me, but it’s gonna stay humble. [Ingebrigtsen] worked hard, I guess.”
Myers ran upstaged the authoritative but slightly predictable victory of Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ollie Hoare who led throughout and won comfortably in 3:52.54.
“I wasn’t running that fast at his age,” said Hoare, who was regretting the chicken korma he ate mid- afternoon and found himself returning to the track after his race.
“Professional learnings,” Hoare laughed.
“This is why I came home you know I want people to be excited about an event that you have the best in the world and you can come and watch it in Melbourne. I’ve I’ve done about three or four days in travel in the past two weeks, a story in the New York Times, won a medal for Australia in Bathurst, done a lot of media, then this tonight, but it’s worth it, it’s something I am so happy to be a part of.”
Stewart McSweyn, the 1500m national record holder, chose to run the 3000m instead of the mile, spreading the pool of elite runners across multiple events for fans. He ran 7:44.36, but was beaten home by Kenya’s Ishmael Kipkurui, who just won the world cross country under 20 gold medal in Bathurst at the weekend. Kipkurui ran 7.41.38.
Fred Kerley was laughably good in the 200m, powering down in the last 20 metres pointing his finger in the air to celebrate for the last 20metres to win in 20.32s from Australian 100m star Rohan Browning who ran well for 20.71s in a rare attempt at the longer sprint.
“I enjoyed myself. Breaking 20 would have been easy, but the win is all that matters,” Kerley said.
“The crowd love it (the celebration). It’s all good. I come out to come and race and that’s the first one I got finished with. I come out to race enjoy myself and have fun.”
Browning backed up the impressive second behind Kerley in the 200m to come from behind and overhaul Kiwi Edward Osei-Nketia to win the 100m in 20.26s into a slight headwind.
In the 200m he was strong for the first 120m but as he suspected might happen he found himself flagging in the back half of the race.
“You look at a Fred he could just run the 200 so easy in 20:30. So I’ve got to try to get the next level,” Browning said.
“A couple of years ago, I would never have backed up (from the 200m to the 100m) and I would have been way too fragile, way too cautious. Whereas now I’m confident that my body can handle it. A little bit older, sort of less green and maturity in my body a little bit more.
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“But I’m also not under any illusions, I’ve got to get a bit quicker and keep executing better.”
Browning said he had enjoyed the competition of racing with Kerley, but as valuable had been time spent with and around him for days.
“It just it demystifies them (the world’s best runners), you realize they are human you know, guys are going on the circuit they get beat one and the next day they are back.”
Sprint hurdler Michelle Jenneke ran another world championships qualifier with a very good early season 12.75s.