Australian Jordy Williamsz will come to next Sunday’s Lottoland Mitchell Street Million Dollar Mile in the form of his life after claiming one of the biggest wins in his career last night. He will be joined by Melbourne Track Club training mate and Rio 800m Olympian Selma Kajan.
25-year-old Williamsz won the road mile race at the Great North CityGames in Newcastle UK in 4:05.88. The Victorian taking some big scalps including Rio Olympic 800m finalist Marcin Lewandowski of Poland.
Williamsz was third in last year’s Lottoland Mitchell Street Million Dollar Mile and said he was keen to come back to Darwin for the world’s richest road mile.
“Last year was a great event. It’s exciting to run a mile in the middle of a city, Darwin is no exception with such an enthusiastic crowd.
“Obviously competing last year, I am familiar with the course and the event. But I know this year it will be a much larger spectacle which I am really looking forward to,” Williamsz said.
In addition to last night’s victory in England, Williamsz has had a year to remember, including progressing to the semi-finals of the IAAF World Championships in London and running a personal best of the mile last month in Birmingham of 3:56.89.
“Right now, I’ve been running in the form of my life. I’m really hoping to carry it through until the Mitchell St Mile,” he declared.
With some insights into the race and bringing the form of his career to Darwin, Williamsz is hoping to produce the performance of his career for the second time in two weeks and win the $15,000 first prize.
“The prize money this year is enormous, I couldn’t believe it when I read about it – it’s quite an impactful amount of money to whomever wins it. The $1m world record bonus will be very difficult to achieve, but should give some incentive to people to make it a really really fast race.
For Selma Kajan it will be her first time racing the Lottoland Mitchell Street Million Dollar Mile, however she has heard plenty about it already.
“There is a great buzz surrounding this event and it’s certainly building up a reputation which is great to have in an Australian running event. We need more of it!” she said.
From quality running pedigree, her mum is the Bosnian 800m record holder and her dad represented Yugoslavia in the 10,000m and ran a 2:18 marathon. With genes like that, it was no surprise that back in 2005 Kajan was ranked as the world fastest U’14 athlete over 800m.
“I really love this sort of event, and while I don’t get to do too many competitions outside the track, I really do think running is the best way to explore a city, so what better way to do it than a race right in town. I’ve never been to Darwin, so this will be the perfect way to take in what it has to offer.
“Although never having done the Mitchell Street mile myself, quite a few of my MTC training partners have done it previously as well as my boyfriend Collis finishing second in previous years, so I will be taking all the advice I can get about race tactics and how to approach the event,” Kajan said.
The Lottoland Mitchell Street Million Dollar Mile is on Sunday 17th September and features 8 different categories, with an event for everyone.
Entries are open in all eight categories for the 2017 Lottoland Mitchell Street Million Dollar Mile, including;
Hilton 12 Years and under run (mixed)
City of Darwin Youth run (13-18 yrs) (mixed)
Lottoland Defence and Services run (mixed)
Lottoland Masters run (mixed over 35)
Donate Life Fancy Dress run (mixed)
Royal Flying Doctors Service Open run (mixed)
Lottoland Women’s Elite race
Lottoland Men’s Elite race
Enter online at www.mitchellstreetmile.com.au.
Great Race Jordy, congratulations.