Sport
7 January, 2025
Half a second plenty for Rossi
Anne Rossi took a dominant half-a-second victory in the Darryl Wagstaff Funerals 120 metre Masters final.
Running as a front marker off 25 metres, Rossi had enough steam in the tank to hold off the chasing pack, and celebrated wildly with her supporting group after crossing the line.
Rossi’s 13.229 was enough to win by five tenths from Dion Paull in second, while Mark Glassborow was third.
Not bad then, for someone who decided to get back into the sport this time last year.
“It’s actually quite rewarding. It’s been challenging trying to get back into running, and it was my third race since I decided this time last year I’d have a go running,” Rossi said.
“It felt okay. I’m hoping I can do better but the body hurts.”
Rossi spoke about how much she enjoyed being the front marker, allowing her to run her own race without the distractions of others.
“I think the benefit of being the front marker is that you have no one around you, so you can concentrate on yourself. You don’t think about anyone else and you have no idea where anyone else is, so you just think about getting to the finish line,” she said.
“I did like having someone to run down in the heat, but it’s an individual sport. It doesn’t matter how bad or good you are, anyone can do it.”
Another key for Rossi is the ability to support Little Athletes coming through, especially since she also coaches.
“We have a small mob of our training crew that I coach, they are all youths. They have all finished Little Athletics and we’re trying to get them exposed to senior athletics, either through the Victorian Athletic League or Athletics Victoria, and showing them that past Little Athletics, there is still sport for them to do, and you can still keep running. We do lose a lot of youth. Our whole philosophy is trying to keep them together, happy, having fun, coming along and doing the Gifts so that they stay with the sport,” she said.
“Hopefully this gives some of the kids inspiration. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, there is a spot, and I’m hoping it motivates some of the youth to do well.”