Category Archives: 2009/10 Press Releases and Media Coverage

Articles on the Squad

2009/10 Press Releases and Media Coverage

Summary of 2009/10 season

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Top 10 MattyB DEPT. moments

  1. Brendan Cole–Gold in 4 x 400m relay at 2010 Commonwealth Games
  2. Tom Burbidge–2010 Stawell Gift Winner
  3. Lauren Boden–4th in 400m Hurdles at 2010 Commonwealth Games
  4. Lauren Boden–Winner of 400m Hurdles at Osaka Grand Prix (PB 55.25)
  5. Lauren Boden–2010 National 400m Hurdles Champion
  6. Melissa Breen–2010 National 100m Champion
  7. Brendan Cole–2010 National 400m Hurdles Champion
  8. Luke Storta–2009 Queanbeyan Gift Winner
  9. Chloe Jamieson–2009 National Jnr 90,200 & 400m Hurdles Champion
  10. Derek Collinge–2010 Burramine Gift Winner

There were numerous other gift winners for the year which led to MattyB DEPT. taking out 17 sashes and over $70,000 in prize money. There were also 6 athletes in the semi finals of the Stawell Gift and 2 in the final including the winner Tom Burbidge and Brendan Matthews 6th.

Melissa Breen and Lauren Boden were dominate in the domestic season with numerous victories around the country and this culminated with Melissa, Lauren and Brendan Cole all taking out the National Title in their respective events. All three continued their form in Japan with Lauren in particular taking a couple of victories including a massive persona best of 55.25 when winning the Osaka GP in May 2010.

A new star of the squad emerged in December 2009 with Chloe Jamieson taking 3 gold in the hurdle events during the Australian All Schools Championships. Her time of 59.66 in the 400m Hurdles ranked her as one of the top 3 in the world for her age.

The squad also collected multiple state titles highlighted by Tarin Nevin’s capture of the NSW Open Women’s 400m Title in March.

The season finished with Brendan, Lauren and Melissa competing in a series of meets overseas highlighted by the Continental Cup (Croatia) and Commonwealth Games (India). All represented MattyB DEPT. with distinction but special mention must go to Brendan Cole for his superb efforts in the 4 x 400m team that helped Australia take the gold.

 MattyB was also selected as a team coach for Youth Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

MattyB DEPT. would like to thank everyone who has sponsored, supported, cheered and assisted this season. Without you the squad would not have achieved the results they did.

So the season comes to an end which means only one thing needs to be said……

BRING ON SEASON 2010/11.

See you at the track soon

MattyB

2009/10 Press Releases and Media Coverage

Runnerstribe interview Part II

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Matt Beckenham: Interview Part II

by Chris Wainwright

Matt Beckenham – Making His Mark on the International Coaching Scene (Part 2)

**Editor: Please note the following interview was conducted on the 1st August, and was broken down into two parts due to the length of the interview**.

RT

You’ve set up your own website and continuously promote your athletes through media releases etc. Do you find it hard to promote your own athletes in a sport that is up against the other sports in Australia such as AFL and Rugby League? How do you keep your athletes on the path to Olympic glory in such a difficult sport?

Matt Beckenham

Promotion of athletics in Australia is extremely tough but every little bit helps. My website www.mattybdept.com is designed to promote athletes, give an insight into our squad and recognize and thank our sponsors.
2009/10 Press Releases and Media Coverage

High Noon Results

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Commonwealth Games athletes Lauren Boden, Brendan Cole and Melissa Breen had their final hit out today on their local track where they again braved cold and windy conditions.

Lauren Boden showed some great signs of huge things ahead crossing the line in 56.34. After the race Lauren said “with the winds gusting everywhere I wasn’t sure what stride pattern to do. In the end I got my 15’s to 8 (8th Hurdle) but then I made some mistakes coming home”

Lauren will next compete in Dubniza on the 22nd July where she is hoping to run under 56 seconds.

Fellow hurdler Brendan Cole ran consistently again with a time of 51.29. “Runing solo in those conditions was really tough” Cole explained.”To be honest I feel like I am in the best shape of my life and I think part of me is already in Europe. I just can’t wait to get over there now!” 

Rounding out the performances was 19 year old Melissa Breen. Unlike the hurdlers Breen was able to run with the wind in a 60m and 100m and she took full advantage of it. A time of 7.30 (3.3w) and 11.28 (3.6w) were both under her personal best times and despite the fact they won’t count due to the wind Melissa was extremely pleased with these results

“It was cold out there today but I am so happy with the results. My first part of the 100m race felt really strong and I know I need a good start when I head to europe and race the best in the world.”

All three athletes depart on Tuesday for Europe for a series of competitions before lining up in Croatia at the Continental Cup where they will take on the the top athletes from the 4 different continents.

To see full results of today click here

Also check out www.melbreen.com and www.laurenboden.com for their own thoughts on today!