Rayner Rampage Bound for On Track Nights Zatopek:10

For all that has been spoken about On Track Nights Zatopek:10, Jack Rayner provides a simple analysis – a national title bout in an Olympic year is a must win and a must watch. Gunning for a third straight Australian 10,000m crown, Rayner’s hat-trick bid looms as his toughest test yet.

Peeling into the middle of the track to dish out high-fives to the crowd, Rayner sailed to his second Zatopek:10 title in 2022 - becoming the first man to win the coveted crown twice in a calendar year. Conscious of speaking “too soon”, the Australian record holder knows that the elusive three-peat will require his best.

“Obviously I had a disappointing season over in Europe, but it has been nice to find form again on the Australian circuit. Hopefully I can keep the streak going against some good competition with Pat [Tiernan] coming over and Kioko [Athanas],” Rayner said.

“I think it’s good that people have to come back to run Nationals. It will make it a proper Nationals, I’m keen to race everyone and I’m sure the best three will get on the team in each event.”

Since returning from his European campaign, Rayner has been on a rampage. He has raced to victory at the Chemist Warehouse Australian Cross Country Championships (10km), Australian Road Running Championships (12km), Melbourne Marathon (Half Marathon), Burnie Ten (10km) and Noosa Bolt (5km).

“It’s been nice to come back and not have as much expectation, just to enjoy running again. That has really worked out nicely in my favour,” Rayner said.

“The races overseas and especially the Diamond Leagues, they have really gone to another level in the last couple of years. Unless you are completely 100% fit and ready to go, you are going to struggle in those races.”

Applying the finishing touches to his On Track Nights Zatopek:10 preparation at Falls Creek, Rayner’s first official steps towards a second Olympic Games at Paris 2024 will begin with a showdown against former national record holder Patrick Tiernan and Kenya’s Athanas Kioki amidst a star-studded field of 24.

With Rayner’s Oceania record standing at 27:15.35, the 27-year-old believes the 27:00.00 Olympic standard is “possible in the right race”, but his focus remains fixed on breaking the tape at Lakeside Stadium this Saturday.

“I’m still hoping to run quick times leading into the Olympic year, to qualify in the 5000m or 10,000m. Zatopek will be a good stepping stone as it is the National Championships, I would love to run a quick time there and ideally secure a fair amount of world ranking points by doing well,” Rayner said.

“The whole [Olympic] field probably won’t qualify on time, so those points are going to be important. I have only had a couple of really good track races, so I would love to become more consistent with that.”

A Tokyo Olympian in the marathon, Rayner is determined to run his way into the green and gold at Paris 2024, with his maiden campaign derailed by injury – fuelling the fire ever since.

“The Olympic year has come around a lot quicker than normal, given Tokyo was delayed by a year. It feels like it wasn’t that long ago, even though we aren’t far away from Paris. I’m really keen to improve and lower my personal bests,” Rayner said.

“The worst part was finding out one month before the race that I had a stress fracture. I knew what was coming one month before the race and that I wasn’t going to be able to perform, so I just have a lot of motivation to improve.”

Tickets to On Track Nights Zatopek:10 on Saturday December 2 can be purchased HERE.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 27/11/2023