Sport
4 January, 2024
Hilson’s big breakthrough
What a day it was for White Hills’ Greg Hilson. In a big breakthrough in what is somewhat of a local event for him, given Maryborough is just an hour away, Hilson was able to take the 1600 m open race, as well as saluting in the 1600 m Masters...
What a day it was for White Hills’ Greg Hilson.
In a big breakthrough in what is somewhat of a local event for him, given Maryborough is just an hour away, Hilson was able to take the 1600 m open race, as well as saluting in the 1600 m Masters event in the final race of the day.
After winning the 1600 m Open race, however, Hilson was relieved. After competing for 27 years, this was the day he had been waiting for.
“It’s marvellous. My first run here was in 1997, and previously, I had done a pole vault in the back straight here at Maryborough. But I joined the Victorian Athletic League from there back in the day, and I’ve been running ever since,” he said.
“I’ve scored two seconds in the open mile, a second in the open 400, and a third in the Masters mile, but I’ve never been able to win.
“I’m 54 now, and I’m rapt to still be running as quick as I am, so it’s very exciting.”
Hilson blitzed the field in the final lap of the event, taking victory with a strong time of 4.08.319 to win by seven seconds from backmarker Josh Ball, who ran a 4.15.520, while Jackson Lynch was third with a 4.15.885.
Hilson said it was a welcome change of form to career away from the field as he took the lead going into the final lap.
“For me, running off my mark and getting to the front with a lap to go gave me some motivation to find a bit extra and keep going,” he said.
“I was pretty consistent, which was good. I had been dropping off in the final lap of my recent races, but once I hit the front and could see the finishing line, it gave me motivation to kick on.”
Despite the warm conditions on the day and the long distance of the race, Hilson believed he didn’t have to worry about the heat.
“The warmer conditions don’t worry me as I’ve been training in it in recent times, and on the jobsite as a builder, where I’m always working in the heat. So, it didn’t really come into it for me, which was an advantage,” he said.