American gold medallist to add 400m spice to 2012 Tour

 

The proof of the class of competition, Steffensen believes, lies in the fact that athletes such as American Greg Nixon, who was part of the gold medal winning 4x400m relay team at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu (KOR), want to come to Australia to race.

 

Nixon will compete in Perth on 11 February and in Sydney on 18 February. 

The former world indoor champion can expect a battle on the track against Ben Offereins (WA) and Steffensen as well as rising star Steve Solomon (NSW).

 

Steffensen said: "I know Greg well, we've run against each other a couple of times. The Americans traditionally produce strong one-lap athletes, which always makes them a threat in both the individual and the relays.

 

"But in Australia we have always had a lot of depth in the 400m so domestically we’ve always been fine. I think the internationals and Americans want to come and race because that depth helpsthem too, it’s competition for them.

 

"So you know, it all makes for a real tasty 2012 Tour because there are several Australians looking to out-run each other.

 

"I love racing in front of a home crowd and I love putting on a show for all the people who come out. Who knows what I’ll be wearing this year.

 

“I'm also looking forward to racing at the new track in Melbourne as Olympic Park was never a place I really liked to run.I’ve heard a lot of good things about it so and there’s nothing better than a fresh start.”

 

The former Commonwealth champion finished third at the 2011 Australian Championships, behind Offereins and Solomon, who ran a personal best to win.

 

Steffensen then struggled with injury throughout the remainder of the season, but with a solid block of training already under his belt the 29-year-old is confident he can impress in 2012, with a spot on a third Olympic team his goal.

 

He continued: "I had a tough year with injury this year, but you know I'm feeling fit now and have been training really hard in Los Angeles so things are good. 

"I'm hoping to come back to Australia next year and show people straight away the kind of form I'm in. I am determined to do everything I can to make sure I am fit to compete in my third Olympics and make Australia proud.

 

"With Jeremy Wariner (USA) having spent a lot of this year injured and LaShawn Merritt (USA) serving a drug ban, no-one has really dominated this event.

 

“Kirani James (GRN) has shown he's an exceptional talent while LaShawn has come back from his ban and shown his class, but it will be interesting to see ifanyone can show some consistency next year.”

 

With the IAAF having lowered the A-qualifying standard to 45.30, and Athletics Australia having adopted this as their mark, competition will be fierce for London.

 

Steffensen and Offereins formed half of the 4x400m relay team who won bronze at the 2009 world championships in Berlin (GER), and while they will hope to team up again in London they will spend the domestic season as rivals.

Solomon impressed on his senior debut at the Australian Championships this year, winning the event in a personal best of 45.58. The 18-year-old made his Flame debut at the IAAF world championships as part of the 4x400m relay team.

 

 

Also part of that team, and looking for an individual spot in London, is Commonwealth silver medallist Sean Wroe (VIC).