US collegiate based athlete Ryan Foster has slashed seven tenths of a second off the Australian indoor 1000m record with a 2:19.60 run at the PSU northeast challenge over the weekend.
Foster, 21, is on an athletic scholarship at Pennsylvania State University and last year significantly lowered his personal best over 800m to 1:46.78 on his way to an 8th place finish in the NCAA championships. His performance improves on Commonwealth Games 1500m bronze medalist Mark Fountain's run of 2:20.30 from 2005.
The Tasmanian was surprised by his performance, which came in only his third race of the season.
"I wasn't expecting to be quite that fast, we were aiming for around 2:21," he said.
"I had a rabbit to 400m and the aim was to be 55 point at the 400m but we ended up going 53 point, which put me two seconds up on my split times and I just managed to hold that advantage and be two seconds better at the end than what we planned.
"I wasn't aware that it was an Australian record immediately. I actually went out for my cool down run and only found out later when I came back in."
With the 800m in Australia undergoing a resurgence over the past 12 months and Foster being one of four athletes to possess a Commonwealth Games qualifier, competition for the Australian team to Delhi could be fierce.
"I won't be able to return home for the domestic season," said Foster.
"As a college athlete my commitment first and foremost is to Penn State, both my schoolwork and the track team.
"Unfortunately the seasons run concurrently and also during my school academic year so opportunities to return home are not available.
"I have a number of goals for the rest of the year. I'm only three races in to a long season but I would like to continue improving my performances and long term looking to run in Delhi at the Commonwealth Games."
