A rising star of Western Athletics, sprinter Luke Stevens has been on a high since taking part in the inaugural Nitro Athletics, the new mixed team-based international program of sprint, distance, field and para-athletic events.
Stevens could not have asked for a better event in the lead-up to all-important state and national championships.
The 22-year-old got to represent Team Australia against some of the world’s greats, including best-of-the-best Usain Bolt.
Stevens believes the Nitro Athletics format is here to stay.
“Anything that’s on its maiden trial was always up for scepticism from the public,” he said.
“It was better than the expectations, not only those I had for myself, but for everyone.
“The positive thing that came out of it, the general public, which doesn’t speak about athletics much, they couldn’t stop talking about it … it was the excitement of wanting to watch the following night and talk about people wanting to be involved next year.”
Stevens was one of two Western Athletics stars involved in the three-night blockbuster at Lakeside Stadium. The Tarneit resident even combined with fellow westie Morgan Mitchell in the 2 x 300m event.
“It’s a pretty unique situation having 24 athletes nationwide and two of them coming from the same club,” Stevens said.
“That’s quite a revelation in athletics locally. The committee is really proud they had two representatives and they’ve been a great support.”
Stevens reckons Nitro Athletics was a success because it was taken seriously by big-name athletes from the outset. The World All Stars team came through to win the titles on the back of Bolt and co.
“He’s one of a kind,” Stevens said. “He’s one of the greatest athletes we’ve ever seen in sport.
“I think it was good to see that he was there not just for a show – he wanted to win and he made that public as well.”
Stevens said the best part of Nitro Athletics for him was the interaction between athletes and the crowd.
Athletes spilled onto the track to urge their teammates home and went out of their way to pose for selfies and sign autographs for the crowd that packed the stadium.
“Some of the stuff the athletes were doing on the side … you wouldn’t typically do that,” Stevens said.
“It got the crowd more involved – they were standing up cheering, not only Team Australia, but even some of the well known athletes.
“There wasn’t an empty seat on the last night. “It felt like you were in a jam-packed stadium, so the athletes couldn’t help but get involved with the spectators.”
After the fanfare of Nitro Athletics, it was back to reality for Stevens, preparing for his most important month or so on the track, starting with state championships and culminating in the nationals in Sydney in late March.
On the horizon also is the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and Stevens would be lying if he didn’t say it is on his mind.
But there is plenty of work to be done before he can dream of the Gold Coast starters’ blocks next year.
“I’ve got some big competitions coming up,” Stevens said. “I’ve just got to train hard, race well and do the best I can.
“I think I’ve already qualified [for the nationals], but that’s irrelevant.
“Going forward, you’ve just got to make sure you’re well prepared, make sure you’re in the best possible shape and treat every athlete you come up against with respect, knowing they’re going to do the best they can.
“Hopefully, in the nationals, I’m in the best shape that I can be.”
