A MARATHON in Rotterdam in April could well decide if Launceston distance runner Josh Harris is Tasmania’s latest Olympic representative.
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Harris ran a personal best 2.20.27 to finish in 20th place in the Fukuoka marathon in Japan and was the first Australian runner home.
The excellent result has made Athletics Australia sit up and take notice as he edges closer to Olympic Games qualification.
‘‘Fukuoka was only Josh’s second marathon and a lot is going to depend on how he performs in Rotterdam,’’ Tasmanian Institute of Sport Track and Field coach Susan Andrews said.
Andrews said Harris still had plenty of work ahead of him to book a seat to Rio de Janeiro.
‘‘He is presently ranked sixth in Australia and the team only takes three marathon runners,’’ she said.
Andrews said the incentive was there for Harris to continue to lower his times.
‘‘His Fukuoka time was two minutes off the Rio qualifying time,’’ she said.
Andrews said the future was looking bright for other Tasmanians with Olympic aspirations.
The state’s top 400-metre runner Tristan Thomas was embarking on a comeback after a lay-off and would plan his races sparingly while 400 metre female runner Sam Lind faced a tough campaign among a select group of athletes.
Sprinter Jack Hale will create plenty of interest among professional ranks in the weeks ahead while paralympians Deon Kenzie and Todd Hodgetts had already qualified.
