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BIOGRAPHYHailing from Tasmania, Jacob Despard is an explosive sprinter who was selected to make his senior Australian debut at the Commonwealth Games at Birmingham 2022. As a promising junior fast bowler, in year 7 Jacob began his sprinting career as a way to improve his run-up speed. However the “thrill of running fast” took over as he began to focus solely on sprinting, competing across both track and grass. By 2013, he was a regular on the Victorian Athletic League circuit and in 2014 he made his junior international debut at the World U20 Championships. In 2018 he collected professional sashes at Avondale Heights, Burnie, Devonport and Euroa among others, ahead of his crowning moment at the 2018 Stawell Gift, winning the blue riband 120m event off the back mark of 4.5m and earning himself $40,000 in prize money. Jacob’s ability to translate his specialist grass-sprinting ability across to the synthetic track has come in leaps and bounds in 2022, running his personal best of 10.24 at the Oceania Championships in June. In March, he produced a statement performance at the 2022 Melbourne Track Classic placing him on the watchlist of national selectors, running a wind assisted 10.11 (+3.4). A month later in his first national final, he finished 6th in the 100m at the 2022 Australian Championships in Sydney. 2023 was another busy year of racing for Jacob, clocking PBs of 10.21 (100m) and 20.59 (200m) and being a regular on the National relay team. In 2024 he moved his 100m best to 10.15 in Canberra in January. He had become the equal ninth fastest in Australian history. At season’s end he was third at the Nationals in the 100m. During the summer he was a regular on the National relay team running usually the second leg. The team clocked a series of mid-38 second times and ran brilliantly at the World Relays in May 2024 where they secured a Paris Olympic berth for the Australian 4x100m relay team. Representing OVA Southern Saints in Tasmania and Athletics Essendon in Victoria, he trains under Hong Kong-based coach Rolf Ohman, in which they communicate via correspondence. Influential people in his career: “My father has been a big supporter and often someone if I need advice. My previous and current athletics coaches have also played large roles in shaping me into the athlete I am today - Rosemary Coleman, Ray Quarrell, Scott Rowsell and Rolf Ohman.”…Sporting hero: “Growing up, it was Ricky Ponting. Seeing a fellow Tasmanian rise and be at the top of his game in the country and then the world inspired me to believe I could achieve my goals, no matter what limitations people may put on you.”…On his love of sprinting: “I love the thrill of running fast, everything I've worked for coming down to 10 seconds on the track. Pushing myself to the very limit and testing what I am capable of.”…Biggest challenge faced: “Covid19 in Melbourne while living and training alone is the biggest challenge I've faced. Mentally and physically being able to hold myself accountable and do the hard sessions. I used this time to go all in on my training and put everything into the track.”…Advice to your young self: “Consistency and hard work kills talent everyday of the week, be a hungry dog.”…Hobbies: gym and Racing Cars. @ 20 July 2022 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au
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