St. Kevin’s 800m Legends Dinner – Report & Photos

On Saturday 28 May 2016, over 60 people from the SKAAC community came together to celebrate the five St. Kevin’s athletes to have won a Senior National 800m title. 4 of the 5 champions were in attendance on the night, with Luke Mathews currently in Europe preparing for the Rio Olympics in August offering probably the best excuse ever for being unable to attend on the night.

 

9 National 800m Champions since 1977 coming from St. Kevin’s can rightfully have us claim to be the 2^nd most successful 800m production line outside of the famous St. Patricks in Kenya. Please see below for a list of the years in which a St. Kevin’s athlete has won the National 800m title:-

 

John Higham (1977, 1978, 1979);

Peter Bourke (1980, 1982, 1984);

Simon Lewin (1993);

Alex Rowe (2014); and

Luke Mathews (2016).

 

A wonderful meal shared by all at The Glenferrie Hotel, our principal entertainment sponsor was followed by two riveting interview sessions expertly conducted by Justin Rinaldi (a National 800m Champion in 1997). John Higham and Peter Bourke were first to address the room to discuss their toughest training sessions, which centred around never asking Franz Stampfel as to why you were doing 20 x 200m for soon it would be 30 x 200m. John spoke of being the only Australian to have ever won the 400m/800m double at a national Championship, and also why he chose not to compete at the 1980 Olympic Games.

 

Peter Bourke in his unassuming way spoke to a silent room about the buildup to his famous win in the 800m at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games and the tactics that he took into the race. Peter also spoke of his preparation for big races seeking strong, PB level performances in distances either side of his specialist 800m event, in the 400m & 1500m.

Both John & Peter were unanimous in their views about the training methods employed by their coaches in the 1970’s & 1980’s being inferior to those methods of the current day coaching methods, particularly relating to the volume of training they completed.

A lovely dessert was soon followed by the final interview session with Simon Lewin & Alex Rowe (who leaves on Wednesday for Cologne, seeking a Rio qualifier). Simon Lewin spoke of his toughest session being in the sand dunes in Sorrento where the variation in rep performance would vary wildly between his best and slowest, due to incredible fatigue. Simon also spoke of mental preparation he completed to overcome long time competitor, Barry Acres to secure the 1993 National 800m title and also having Justin Rinaldi in the same race!! He also spoke of the form that he was in at the time, and that quite possibly he was possibly in better shape to win the 1993, National 1500m final, but the euphoria of winning the 800m took a little edge off – I say understandably!!

Alex Rowe spoke of his National 800m Record and the controversy surrounding him being in Monaco that famous night and the lead up to even receiving an invitation to contest the race. He also spoke of the heartbreak of injuring his hamstring soon after that record breaking run that was to rule him out of representing his country at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Each of the 4 National 800m Champions present were presented with a memorabilia piece outlining their athletic records and their connection to St. Kevin’s.

It was a wonderful tribute to five wonderful gentlemen and giants of not only our club, but our sport and our country. Please see below for some photos taken on the night. Key videos (including both interviews) will be up shortly.