NSWIS Squad Chasing Times, Experience and Berths: Sauvage

Paralympic great, Louise Sauvage OAM, said the five New South Wales Institute of Sport’s (NSWIS) athletes headed to Switzerland had the opportunity to attain either World Championship berths; Personal Bests; international racing experience, and the thrill of racing at Arbon – regarded as the world’s fastest track.

Sauvage, the New South Wales Institute of Sport and Athletics Australia’s Assistant Wheelchair Track and Road coach, left for Switzerland on Monday where she’ll help Head coach, Andrew Dawes, oversee the Aussies performances at three race meets in Arbon (May 18; May 20-21) and Nottwil (May 25-27).

Included in the squad are NSWIS athletes Rheed McCracken (photographed above), Luke Bailey, Aimee Fisher, Ethan Moos and Sarah Clifton-Bligh.

“It’s the last competition they can go to and qualify for the World Championships,” said Sauvage, who won nine gold and four silver Paralympic medals between 1992-2004.

“The goals for some of them are to get their times to compete in the ‘champs,’ but it is also to get international racing experience against the competition they’ll most likely face in July.

“While it will be a good opportunity for all of them, there’ll be those who’ll finally get the opportunity to race internationally after the disruption of the last couple of years.

“The weather should make it an interesting experience. It looks ordinary  – wet and not very warm – so I’ve told them to pack for everything! It will be an experience, but, as I’ve told the athletes, if we have to race in the rain . . . we have to race in the rain.”

Sauvage ran her thumb over NSWIS’s five representatives and said the common denominator for each of them was ‘experience’ and the race against the clock:

Rheed McCracken: “I expect for Rheed to be in the mix for all his races – the 100, 400 and 800m. For him, this trip is all about race experience, flushing out the nerves, and having a crack at some times – especially at Arbon because it’s considered the fastest track in the world.”

Luke Bailey: “A 100m specialist, who’ll be hunting down some [World Championships] qualifying times to confirm his place on the team.”

Aimee Fisher: “I’ve only been writing programs for Aimee for a few months – I’m working with Andrew Dawes there – but I look forward to seeing her progression.”

Ethan Moos: “Ethan’s first international trip, so it’s the first time he’ll travel with the team. I expect this will be an eye opener for him, and expect the experience of racing on a nice, fast track will be very different for him.”

Sarah Clifton Bligh: I think Sarah will be looking to gain experience during this trip and to also smash out a few PBs. She’s entered in a few events. She’s super fit and I’m pleased to see how nicely she is coming along.”

Daniel Lane, NSWIS