Mile win a big confidence boost for McSweyn

Stewart McSweyn acknowledges the crowd after his win in the mile at the Maurie Plant Meet.

Stewart McSweyn has paid tribute to Maurie Plant for providing the platform for his best win in three years in the event named in his late mentor’s honour.

After two years dogged by injury and illness, the Tasmanian took great confidence from his front-running victory in the mile at Lakeside Stadium on Thursday.

McSweyn (three minutes 52.00 seconds) was pushed all the way to the line by Britain’s Jake Wightman, the 1500m world champ in 2022.

Wightman was among a host of well-credentialled international athletes enticed to Australia for the country’s only Continental Gold Tour meet.

Among the ubiquitous Plant’s many important contributions to track and field was getting Australians into the biggest meets in the European summer season.

He was also a key figure in convincing international stars of the benefits of starting their annual campaigns Down Under.

“Maurie was the guy who got me my first Diamond League start when I probably didn’t deserve a start,” McSweyn said.

“He found a way to get me in (to a big race) in 2018.

“I owe a lot to him, and it’s great to run the meet that means so much to his family and friends.

“I know he’ll be watching on and loving it, getting big crowds in Australia.”

McSweyn, 28, rated Thursday night’s win at the Maurie Plant Meet over a field including Wightman and Australian teen star Cameron Myers as his best since 2021’s Diamond League triumphs in Oslo and Brussels.

With 2022 Commonwealth champion Olli Hoare soon to return after recovering from injury, and Myers and Jye Edwards also in the mix, competition will be hot among the Australians for spots in the 1500m at the Paris Olympics.

“This was a massive confidence boost,” said McSweyn, who was supplanted as Australian 1500m record-holder by Hoare last year.

“In this sport you have to have a clear run at it.

“The standard is too good.

“For me I’m the healthiest I’ve been at this time of year.

“I know I can improve a lot from here.

“I’m confident I can do a lot this year, and I want to try and give it my best and stay healthy.”