01/02/2025
The age-old Camden Classic carnival will be held tomorrow the 2nd of February at the picturesque Camden Oval with the feature race of the carnival being the Men’s Camden Classic 400m event. First run and won by Brian Witty in 1980 the race is the premier middle-distance event of the Pro Running Calendar in South Australia and the 46th iteration of the event this year looks on paper to have attracted the strongest field in years. Packed with sprinters stepping up in distance and some of the state’s best middle-distance guys stepping down in distance the one lap affair promises to be some of the most exciting athletics viewing we will see all year. Strap yourself in, these men will be tearing up the track and the fireworks we will see around the lap of Camden Oval will be worth the price of admission alone.
The honour roll of winners of this event includes some of the greats of our sport Frank McHugh (1983), Steve Hutton (1990 & 96), Tom Hassell (1994), Craig Fountain (1997), Duncan Tippins (perhaps the best run ever seen at Camden 46.68 off 9 metres) (2008), Matthew Hargreaves (VIC) (2009), James Boden (2010), Clay Watkins (2015) and Harry May (2019) all unbelievably talented athletes in their own right and highlights the standing that the South Australian Athletics Community holds this event in. The thirty-one men toeing the start line in this year’s iteration will all be desperate to add their name to the ever-growing winners list.
Headlining the field is one the state’s top 400m athletes in Blake Jones. The Paul Young trained Blake is having his 2nd start in a Camden Classic Men’s 400m (1st raced back in 2022 where he was 5th in his heat), A bronze medallist over the distance at last year’s State Championships, Blake, with PBs of 21.91 (200m) and 48.07 (400m) will fly around the Camden Oval track. Ran his first 400m of the season at last week’s Reynella Gift Carnival and was able to win his heat before going on to finish eighth in the final. A former Bay Sheffield 70m winner (2022), Camden Classic 120m winner (2022) and Crystal Brook 120m winner (2024), Blake, knows how to win, has form at the track and he will be hoping the fitness gains he achieved from his runs at Reynella hold him in good stead for this race.
One of/if not the states most elite and consistent 400m athlete of the past decade in Ryan Atkins will be hoping its fourth time a charm when he competes in this classic event. A 3-time finalist in the Camden Classic, 2024 (5th), 2020 (7th), 2019 (6th), Ryan, is in the form of his life after running slick times of 21.64 (200m) & 47.77 (400m) at last weekend’s ACT State Championships. Ryan, with PBs of 21.47 (200m) & 47.76 (400m) and a Bay Sheffield Winner (2016) is getting better with age and experience and it is an honour that he’s decided to use the Camden Classic and a building block towards the rest of his domestic season. Likes the track and conditions as evidenced by the fact he has won three sashes at the hallowed turf, Camden Classic 120m (2017), Camden Classic 400m U/17 (2014) & Camden Classic 120m U/14 (2011). Get down and watch Ryan run, you will not be disappointed.
The Simon Moran coached Toby Cook will also lace up the spikes in this classic hoping to add his name to the winners list. One of the state’s best middle-distance runners with PBs of 49.49 (400m) and 1:51.55 (800m), Toby, ran a lightning quick 1:52.36 over 800m at the ACT State Championships last week to show the form and fitness he is in. A finalist over the distance at the Keith Patching Carnival (finished 3rd) in November and a 3rd in the 550m at Mort Daly earlier this month should hold him in good stead to be competitive in this field.
Former Bay Sheffield finalist (2nd in 2023) and 48.44 (400m) man Thomas McClure will be stepping out over the full lap distance for the 1st time with the league. The talented Thomas, with PBs of 10.80 (100m), 21.26 (200m) & 48.44 (400m), has speed to burn, an abundance of strength and grit and determination to match anyone in the field. Has competed sparingly with the league this season (his only start being over 120m at the Marion Gift), with his attention being on the track. Did run a solid 21.73 (200m) and 50.03 (400m) in November as season openers. Knows how to run and compete in big events as evidenced by his Bay Sheffield record and will be strong over the 400m distance.
7-time Camden Classic finalist Hayden Rothe will be hoping its lucky number 8 when he toes the start line at this year’s Classic and he can finally break his hoodoo in this event. The greatest to have never won a Classic that means so much to him and his Camden family, the Frank McHugh coached Camden Athlete, Hayden, with finishes of 2024 (2nd), 2023 (4th), 2022 (2nd), 2019 (3rd), 2018 (2nd), 2017 (6th), 2016 (9th) is arguably the most ultra-competitive and ultra-consistent athletes that we have competing with the league on a regular basis. Hayden, a former Stawell Gift 550m winner, scratched from the 400m at Reynella and although not having competed at the distance this year will go in super confident. Has competed over the 70m & 120m this season and was a Semi-Finalist over the gift distance at the recent Bay Sheffield. Is as gutsy as they come and will be hard to beat.
Former Melbourne Victory player and form sprinter of the league Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio is running the 400m distance again this week after the excitement he showed having his first start over the distance at Reynella last week. Winning his heat and finishing 3rd in the final show just how far this athlete has come. Has won three sashes out of his last four starts with the league (70 & 120m at Mort Daly and 120m at Reynella) this athlete is quality and just keeps lifting his level. Luis is fit, fast and strong and the excitement he is bringing to the track in palpable. Cannot wait to see him run the 400m distance again this week. Won the 120m U/18 Boys race at Camden back in 2018 highlighting his form at the track, make sure you watch this guy run.
Other athletes of note include 2023 Camden Classic Winner Maxwell Underwood, elite junior and the Simon Moran coached Thomas Kemp (1:53 800m PB), star junior hurdler and the Gabby Phillis trained Max Thompson, YGTS athlete Hayden Crowe, Michael Hane trained athletes Degras Amakata (1:49 800m PB) & Deacon Gore & Victorian Jack Doderico.
Of the 400m Men’s races run this year the Ian Burge trained Sam Kean has won all 3 (Crystal Brook, Keith Patching & Reynella) in the middle of being on a heater (6 sashes already this season over a variety of distances). A class athlete who runs on guts and determination Sam will give it his all in the hope of making it four from 4 and 7 sashes for the season.
Other athletes to watch who have made a final over the distance this year and are nominated include Bay Sheffield 550m Winner and Maryborough 400m winner on New Years Day Ben Wilson, Tyler Ford, Benjamin Driver, YGTS athlete Luke Rigby, Hayden Petherick (Deb Meich), , the Rick Trelevan trained Cameron Konnis & Camden Athletes Matthew Cousins, Lochie O’Brien, Luke Bero, Xavier Poole, Michael Hayes & Rory White.
All the action kicks off at 12 noon. Live program is available at www.saal.org.au/program
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