Mitchell O’Neill celebrates after winning bronze in the 200m with a time of 20.88 at the NSW Open State Championships.
Former Corowa local and sprint sensation Mitchell O’Neill is continuing to make waves in the track and field world recently winning two bronze medals at state and national events and performing well at the 2023 Stawell Gift.
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With a new coach and a revamped training style, the 24-year-old has been able to improve his speed, endurance, and mental toughness leading to a string of impressive performances.
“I'm now coached under Fred Martin, the previous Under 20 200m Australian record holder, who was also the youngest ever male Olympic track athlete,” Mitch told the Free Press.
“He has made a lot of changes to my style of running and training, and it has worked absolute wonders. My body composition, my goals and my belief has certainly changed in such a positive way.”
After an outstanding performance last year Mitch once again competed in the recent 2023 Stawell Gift, one of the biggest athletic events in Australia, with a better handicap marker than last year in the men's 120 metres.
“I received a marker of 4.25 metres, whereas last year I had 5 metres,” Mitch said.
“My block start and speed has improved, and it certainly worked out better as I ran faster than I did last year.
“I managed to win my 120m heat convincingly in the cold conditions, however I just got pipped in the semi-final by one of the other favourites.
“The Stawell Gift is so cutthroat because you have to win your semi to progress to the prestigious Stawell Gift final, but it's always such good time down there.”
Mitch won his first bronze medal for this year at the NSW Open State Championships in late February competing in the 200m.
Mitch pictured with his new coach Fred Martin- previous Under 20 200m Australian record holder, and former youngest male Olympic track athlete.
“I won my 200m heat with a decent gap and once again I qualified as the fastest in the state going into the final later that day,” Mitch said.
“Some people like to let their foot off the accelerator when they know they arere going to win their heat, to attempt to conserve a small bit of energy, although it obviously lowers their time and may affect the lane draws, they get for the final - which it did.
“Because I'm taught to run hard and through the line, my time was a huge Personal Best (PB) of 21.04, previously 21.35 from 2021.
“I qualified fastest which gave me arguably the best lane for the final (lane 5).
“I think this had a lot to do with my success in the final as I was confident qualifying fastest and had the best lane.
“I had Connor Bond to my side who is a 100m specialist and recently was one of the fastest under 20 athletes in the world.
“He did well and got the step on me on the bend, however because of my new style of running and race plan I was able to reel a few boys in the towards the end of the race and get up for a brilliant bronze.
“I achieved bronze in the 2021 state final, but with a new shiny wind assisted PB of 20.88 – it is now one of the fastest times in the country.
“I also managed to make the 100m state final this year as well, I managed to get to sixth place running a significant PB of 10.60 (previously 10.70) which made me really confident for my 200m runs the next day.”
Mitch subsequently qualified for the National Track and Field Championships in Brisbane earlier this month, travelling up to Queensland with other elite athletes, including Jordan Sarmento, who is a part of O'Neill's training squad in Sydney.
“I had the 100m qualifying round first up, taking out my heat with a time of 10.74 into a headwind, “ Mitch said.
“I was absolutely stoked with that time because I had never broken the 11 second barrier.
Mitch ended up getting to the preliminary round and running another new PB of 10.55, which he was really happy with.
“My goal for the 100m this season was to break into the 10.5's,” he said.
“The 200's were the next day and I had a very fast heat with the inclusion of last year’s national 100m champion Jake Doran, Stawell Gift winner and 200m specialist Druvh Rodriguez Chicho and last year’s 200m national champion Aiden Murphy.
“I knew I would have had to run a very good race to qualify for the final and I did. I ran a really good bend and actually had the step on everyone coming off it.
“I pulled off a huge official PB of 20.90 and qualified fourth fastest in the nation overall.”
Mitch gaining advantage around the bend in the 200m.
In the final, Mitch told himself to give the race everything he had, knowing that he was capable of a national medal.
“I never thought in my wildest dreams my first 200m national final would evolve in the memory it did,” he said.
“The gun sounded, and I got out extremely well. I got up to the shoulder of Japanese 100m specialist Yoshihide Kiryu who's PB is 9.98 and went past him.
“I was in the front coming off the bend and I can remember the race perfectly. I recalled my composure in the 200m final at state and had one thought exactly - do the same thing, and you will be in this.
“A lot of my training advice and words from my coach flashed in my mind and I stayed very strong and relaxed. I got to the line fourth overall while getting up for the national third place bronze medal.
“To say I was emotional was an understatement. All the hard work, pushing through the pain of all my gruesome gym sessions in Sydney with Fred and the boys, the kind words from my footy clubs, the support of Athletics Wollongong, my best friends and of course my family who I love more than life itself.
“There is no way it was possible without them. I dedicated that performance to everyone who has stuck by my side, but especially to my mum and dad who have been two gigantic pillars of support in keeping this crazy dream of mine alive, and now because of them, it's come to life.”
