WORLD JUNIOR INTERVIEW: Ben Jaworski

Athletics NSW
Published: May 23, 2012 09:22:39 AM Updated: Jun 4, 2012 09:54:51 AM

23 May 2012

WORLD JUNIOR INTERVIEW: Ben Jaworski

In the lead up to the 2012 World Junior Championships in July we will meet new NSW members of the national team.

ANSW: Congratulations on your selection in the 100m and 200m for the 2012 world juniors. When did you start athletics? Where? Did you do Little Athletics. What club and how successful?

BEN: I started athletics when I was 12 at Cherrybrook. Before that it was just school carnivals. I started out pretty successfully. I first competed against Nick Hough that year at regional. He won but I made it to state.

ANSW: What got you involved in track and field and what keeps you competing?

BEN: Some friends from school encouraged me to join Cherrybrook Little As when I was in Year 7. I made new friends and performed reasonably well in my events. Then the club brought training to my attention. I started training but I was a little slack until Year 8. When I got into it, things took off.

ANSW: At 2011 Nationals you and Nick Hough ran a fabulous 100m race, but your season came to an abrupt end with an injury. What happened and did you think you would recover for the vital 2012 World Juniors season?

BEN: Well my right hamstring was torn during the 4x100m relay at the Aus Junior Champs when I was 35m from the line. I just kept running with our lead and still won it. I thought it wasn’t that bad considering it was the end of the season so I had all the time in the world to get it right and healed. World juniors was on my mind but I just dealt with one thing at a time. The hamstring came first. I had regular physio treatment with Merryn Aldridge at NSWIS for two or three months.

ANSW: You and Nick Hough have enjoyed a tremendous rivalry over the years.

BEN: Enjoyed is one word for it. Yeah we’ve had a few good races and pushed each other to faster times and both defeated the other in the sprints. We’ve both come a long way since our first 100m race when we were 12.

ANSW: Your 2011/12 season and lead-in to the World Junior trials was most impressive.

BEN: Well five boys did 100m qualifiers and four did 200m so the pressure was on to perform. I just trained and competed as I should to get my times down and it paid off.

ANSW: The selection trials were hot, but you still won selection in the 100m and 200m for the 2012 World Juniors.

BEN: Yeah my races were not were what I expected because some boys were out with injuries but I was still nervous and under the hammer with good opponents. I just did everything I could and got selected.

ANSW: What are your lead-up and world junior goals?

BEN: Well what I need to do is get physically stronger. That is a big part. In terms of races I would like to be close to my PBs coming up to the competitions as well as a 400m PB to see where my fitness is. Goals for Juniors would be to make the finals of the 100, 200 and relay, break 21 in the 200m and hopefully a 10.3 in the 100m.

ANSW: You have a strong club and squad behind you and the critical support network.

BEN: We’re a big family at Cherrybrook and I know all will be watching when we’re over there. Also we have three past World Champ representatives so in terms of experience and advice I think I’ll be fine.

ANSW: Off the track you are studying? What are you hobbies and interests?

BEN: I am studying Business and Commerce Accounting at university. Most of my time goes into training, gym, work and uni and I like to spent down time with friends or just resting.

ANSW: Any famous family members in sport or society?

BEN: Us Jaworskis enjoy our sport but no one is famous that I know of. We’re a small clan in Australia.

Ben Jaworski - Statistics

DOB: 14/10/1993

Personal bests

100m 10.53

200m 21.17

400m 48.95

Annual Progression

100m

2008 10.98

2009 10.70