Joel Milburn has just three opportunities at the end of a season cruelled by injury to gain selection on the Australian track and field team for the London Olympics.
The 400m runner has been unable to race during the crucial selection period due to tendinitis in his hamstring that flared up following a minor strain at the end of 2011.
The former Faulconbridge resident has one race in Sydney and two on the Gold Coast before the June 12 deadline to show the selectors his fitness and form have returned just in time to justify his place on the team.
“I’m only just getting back in shape and generally, personally I’m the kind of guy that needs to have a fair few races before I start actually showing progression . . . This year I’ve got about two or three races,” said Milburn.
“I’m running out of time massively but I’m not going to give up. I’ve got until June 12th to try and run something so I’m going to really have a go at it and fingers crossed I can pull something out and run a good time but if not then I guess it wasn’t to be this season.”
Even if he clocks an Olympic qualifying time, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist will still be at the mercy of the selectors but Milburn is confident his track record would be enough to get him over the line.
That any chance remains for Milburn is only down to the fact that no other Australians have claimed the spots due to a mixture of injury and form woes. It has been a massive fall from grace in an event that has produced many of the country’s track highlights over the past 20 years.
The 400m relay team is also running out of time to haul itself out of 17th position in the world rankings with only the top 16 making it to the start line in London. Milburn is hopeful that if the current squad can achieve qualification, he will be able to make the team by that route, but it all comes back to the next three runs.
Milburn remains philosophical about his predicament, frustrated at the position he is in but relieved he has any opportunity at all remaining.
“I would be more annoyed if I was sitting at home still injured. I’m going to have a go and try to make this team — if it happens it happens, if it doesn’t it doesn’t and that’s just the way it is,” he said. “So if I don’t qualify it’s definitely going to be hard to watch the Olympic Games . . . but at the same time that’s going to give me some fire in the belly for the upcoming years.”