Southland Sport + Motorsport
Even having to run with his shorts on inside out couldn’t prevent Southland middle distance athlete James McLeay from finishing his summer in emphatic style.
McLeay won the Australian under 20 1500m title in Perth earlier this month, improving on his third place at the same event a year earlier.
It was also the last time he will compete in maroon for the foreseeable future as he prepares to swap his Southland singlet for the orange and black of Princeton University in the United States.
“I was really excited about (the Australian championships). I really just wanted to end an up-and-down season on a high. I wasn’t nervous, just excited to run and have a crack at getting the win.”
After an illness-disrupted domestic season, things went largely to plan in Australia for McLeay, except for a run-in with one of the championship officials.
McLeay had to run with his shorts on inside out in his heat after the official deemed that his waist band had too many logos on it.
While the Australian runners were allowed to tape over their logos, McLeay wasn’t afforded the same leniency and instead opted to innovate, even if it did look, in his words, like he was wearing a diaper.
“I just sucked it up and took the mickey out of myself. It was a good learning experience that you’ve got to be on top of the rules in terms of clothing.”
Helpfully, a number of his running friends were on hand to capture photographic evidence of his wardrobe change before the heat, but it made no difference in the end with McLeay winning and automatically qualifying for the final, where he was allowed to tape over the logos.
“The field for the final was pretty stacked. There were a couple of guys who were quicker than me and so tactics were pretty important. I just responded to moves when they happened and I always back myself on the last lap.”
A pre-race chat with his Christchurch-based coach James Ansell then set him up nicely for the championship race.
“He said to me ‘you’re a great racer, so just trust your gut tactically and just have confidence in your ability’,” McLeay said.
That’s how it played out, with McLeay biding his time and maintaining his rhythm despite some jostling for position early in the final.
McLeay was third at the start of the final lap, second going into the final bend and then powered his way home in a determined sprint to claim the win.
Now it’s time to rest and then start the base training for the next track and field season for the former Southland Boys’ High School, St Pauls, Athletics Southland and ILT Academy Southland athlete.
McLeay will leave for Princeton, considered by many to be the top ranked academic university in the United States, in August and will be running competitively again in November.
“I’m really excited. It’s going to be an amazing experience to get over there, and when you train with like-minded people, big things can happen.”