By Michael Gleeson
Long jumper Henry Frayne has rediscovered the best form of his career after four years in the wilderness to land an Olympic qualifier at the national titles in Sydney.
Frayne has not jumped like this for four years.
Henry Frayne in action in London in 2012.Credit: Pat Scala
Yet in Sydney on Sunday, the former world indoor silver medallist and national champion reprised his greatest moments with an 8.15m jump – exactly hitting the Olympic qualifier. It was his biggest jump since he won silver at the world indoor championships in 2012 with an 8.23m leap.
Frayne went one centimetre better again, with the jump in the next round, to make a certainty of his place on the Australian team and the idea of a return to form.
"I am relieved. Back in 2012 there was more excitement, this is more relief because there has not been a lot of jumping between then and now. That was really the peak of my career in early 2012 and since then I have probably had more injuries than any other athlete in track and field," Frayne said.
The long - and triple - jumper's battle with injuries stem from the fact he has one leg 21mm longer than the other. That throws out the balance in his body and has caused extensive hamstring and groin troubles prompting Frayne to consider retirement many times. Onn Friday he felt soreness in the groin and hamstring and almost pulled out of jumping.
"Down deep if I actually thought about it, I could never quit. I am too competitive I believe I can jump 8.50 plus and I can jump 17.50 plus (in the triple jump) ... so there is too much left to achieve," he said.
"If I can get an injury-free run into the Olympics I am really confident of getting in the medals and hopefully the best medal - history would suggest I will have one two three niggles before the Olympics."
Frayne's efforts encouraged Fabrice Lapierre, the reigning world indoor and outdoor silver medallist, to continue his form with an 8.27m jump to win the national title with his longest jump of the season and an improvement on his silver medal jump at world indoors this year.
Lapierre slept in, nearly missed the competition and felt lethargic throughout yet managed to consistently jump in the 8.2m bracket.
"To know I can do that when I am not at my best is huge it's a big confidence booster. That is what you want to make finals and get medals," he said.
"It's awesome to see Henry do that. Hopefully Mitch [Watt] can do the same thing. It would be awesome to have all three of us at the Olympic games so we can help each other out and hopefully get three guys in the final."
These were comfortably Frayne's biggest jumps since he won the world indoors silver medal and the national title in 2012 with 8.27m. He competed at the London Olympics in 2012 but could not hit the marks of early in that year.
Watt, the former world and olympic silver medallist, has been largely absent from competition in recent years. Watt was due to jump in Sydney but a fitness issue prompted him to remain in the US, where he is training. Watt is still pushing to hit a mark to claim the third long jump place on the Australian team.
Young sprint hurdler hurdler Michelle Jenneke claimed the national title in an Olympic qualifying time of 12.93s - her first sub-13 run of the summer.
Sally Pearson remains on the comeback from an Achilles injury and will not compete until a month before the Olympics.