Tamsyn Lewis

Rebecca Williams

Herald Sun - December 14, 2007 12:00am

DUAL Olympian Tamsyn Lewis defied a heavy training load to record an encouraging win in the 400m at the Zatopek 10 meeting at Olympic Park last night.

The national 800m champion showed solid early-season form to score a comfortable victory in 52.16sec ahead of New South Wales runner Jaimee-Lee Starr (53.65).

Lewis's performance was a big improvement on the 53.13 she clocked two weeks ago, giving her a timely training boost for the summer.

"I'm in the middle of the heaviest training because I did Europe in our winter," Lewis said.

"That's why I'm just so happy with the time because I'm just not ready to race yet.

"My PB last season was 51.7 and I've come out in heavy training and done 52.1. It wasn't ideal circular event conditions tonight, it's quite windy.

"It gives you a bit of confidence for your training, especially over the Christmas period."

Lewis, who has been filling in for Matt Tilley on the Fox FM breakfast show, said she remained focused on the 800m for the Beijing Olympics, but she was also eager to qualify for the 400m to keep her options open.

"The 800m is obviously my main goal," Lewis said.

"But I said to my coach before the season started that I would love to get the A-standard for the 400m as well, just to have two events. Then I'll decide which to focus on later.

"We need to get the 400m girls running fast times so we can get a 4 x 400m (relay team) to Beijing, so I think it's always good if we can all get on the track whenever there is an opportunity."

In what could be construed as a shot at Australian male 400m star John Steffensen, Lewis said she planned to compete throughout the summer, saying athletics needed name performers on the track to promote the sport.

"I think if you want to get juniors back in our sport and if you want to get crowds to athletics meets in Australia you have to have the stars competing, you have to have the name cards," she said.

"We really need to get some juniors back in the sport."

New South Wales runner Joel Milburn won the men's 400m in a time of 46.41sec, spoiling the comeback run of Olympian Daniel Batman (47.33).

"I trained with Daniel when I was at the AIS for a year or so and he's a good guy, I like him, but it's good to get up on him," Milburn said.

"It's the first time I have ever beaten him, so it's a good start to the season.

"It's a little bit windy out there, I was hoping to run a bit faster. But I'm happy with it, it's a very good start to the season."

Australian champion Peter Nowill had an easy victory in the men's 3000m steeplechase, recording a time of 8:36.59 to finish around 150m ahead of Scott McTaggart (9:05.44).