Rooney has time target (From Sutton Guardian)

Rooney has one race 400m left to go sub-45 seconds

1:13pm Friday 7th September 2012 in Sport

Croydon Harriers star Martyn Rooney has targeted a sub-45 seconds time in his final race of the season.

At the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix IAAF Diamond League event last week, the 25-year-old Thornton Heath resident finished sixth in the men’s 400m, clocking 45.69.

USA’s two-time 400m hurdles Olympic gold medallist Angelo Taylor cruised through the one-lap event with a season’s best 44.93, beating Luguelin Santos, of Dominican Republic, by 0.03, while Belgium’s Jonathan Borlee was third.

Rooney, a London Olympic semi-finalist, felt he should have capitalised when he was level with Taylor and Santos during the early part of the race.

He said: “It was nice to be involved in the race early on, but I didn’t put myself out in that position – but that’s what happens when you get 45.6.

“It was just a case of getting round and making sure I finish the race in under 45 seconds, which is pretty much my only aim.”

At the IAAF Challenge meeting in Zagreb on Tuesday, Rooney won the 400m but recorded 45.78.

He has one race left, tonight (Friday) in the Diamond League meeting in Belgium, to go sub-45 seconds.

Elsewhere, Lawrence Okoye is determined to continue his good form into next year.

In his penultimate outing of the season, the 20-year-old Croydon Harrier and London Olympic finalist posted a 62.20m throw in the men’s discus at the ISTAF IAAF World Challenge on Sunday at the Olympic Stadium, Berlin.
 

Okoye said: “I’ve done really well this year, especially with the London Olympics, but I just want to keep on going and carry on the good form into next year.”