Smashing two different race records has put Cameron Myers on the athletics map, with the track star named Commonwealth Games Australia’s Emerging Athlete of the Month for January.
Thursday night saw Myers become the second-youngest person after his hero Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen to break the four-minute mile, clocking in an impressive 3:55.44 to take third in the race.
Setting a new Australian U20 mile record, Myers also stripped an impressive 12 seconds off his personal best in the process.
“It’s a really big confidence booster but I’ve got to stay humble and keep working hard,” Myers said post-race at Lakeside Stadium.
Only a month prior, he obliterated the Australian U18 1500m record previously set in 2007 by Ryan Gregson, stopping the clock at 3:40.60.
“Coming into the home straight I was fairly confident I was going to break the record and it was a good sense of relief,” Myers said of his win in the 1500m.
“I sat in about 3rd or 4th place until around 600m to go… and as I got to around 400m to go, I had a look at the clock, and I needed a 60second last lap to break the record and I was feeling good so again I just turned my attention to winning the race.”
With two incredible record setting runs under his belt, it’s undeniable that Myers is someone the athletics world should be keeping a close eye on, as he looks ahead to a professional racing career.
“My goals are to represent Australia at a major world championship and to win a medal on the biggest stage. In terms of life, it would be great to be a professional runner and live that lifestyle for as long as I can.”
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When not breaking records on the track, Myers, who is currently in Year 11 at Ginninderra College in Canberra, enjoys listening to music, eating good food, occasionally playing football and even developing a work-life balance.
“I have a part time job working at a cafe which funds for much of my training needs like shoes, apparel, travel etc.”
Commonwealth Games Australia has a focus on supporting emerging talent and a history that spans 90 years that includes some of sport’s greatest moments.
In Commonwealth member countries, 2023 is the Year of Youth, and the Emerging Athlete of the Month will honour athletes who have the potential to represent Australia in the future, including at the Commonwealth Games.
Over the course of 2023, a young athlete will be honoured each month, receiving a $500 gift voucher to go towards their training expenses and go into the running to earn the title of Emerging Athlete of the Year, winning a $5000 scholarship grant from Commonwealth Games Australia.
