Elite running squad

Sean is a coach to one of Australia's premier elite middle and long distance running squads.

Athletes in this elite squad come from all over Sydney.

The runners range from 13 year olds to internationals who have represented Australia.

Current stars

Some of Australia's top runners are in the squad

Lara Tamsett and Ben St Lawrence are world ranked runners.

Ben is the current Australian record holder over 10000m with his 27.24 and is the second fastest Australian ever over 5000m with his 13.10. Ben is now ranked in the top 30 in the world for both events.

Lara has been ranked in the top 50 in the world in both the 5000m and 10000m over the last three years. She has also placed 26th in the world cross country.

Ben and Lara got the City to Surf "double"in 2010- both winning Australia's most prestigious race over the 14km from Sydney to Bondi Beach.

Other international class runners are Harry Summers (4th in 2011 City to Surf and Australian cross country championships, 3rd in London OLlympics 10000m trial and national rep over cross country and road), rising 5000m star Cameron Page and Steve Thurston (2nd at Burnie Ten 10km, 7th in City to Surf and 8.33 steeplechaser).


Becky Lowe went to the same school as Lara Tamsett, Kincoppal-Rose Bay, being in the same year group. She had been a member of the squad for 4 years and has since moved to the Uni of Florida on scholarship. Becky still trains with the squad for 3 months of the year on uni break. She won the 2008 City to Surf and ran a 32.24 for 10000m.

The squad includes other Australian senior international reps Tim Rowe and Selma Kajan.

Sean also coaches senior Australian rep Tamara Carvolth by correspondance.

Depth galore

Plenty of quality training partners

Star national level runners such as Tom Crasti, Michael Harrison, Vlad Shaprov, Tony Craig, Daina Surka, Brooke Simpson, Darren Moyle, Greta Truscott and Chris Truscott have thrived in the squad environment. It has also included Australian marathon champions and national representatives Damon Harris, Jeremy Horne and Paul Arthur, plus star female national reps Belinda Wilsher, Lucy Chapman and Liz Miller.

Star internationals who have trained with the squad include Commowealth Games marathon medalist from England Liz Yelling, City to Surf Champion Yussi Utrainen from Finland , Dutch 1500m champion Marije Muller, NCAA 5000m champion Bobby Curtis from the USA and Kenyan duo Issac Serem and Josphat Mwangi. Josphat was able to come 3rd in the City to Surf under Sean's coaching.

Top Aussie reps who have trained with the squad include Olympic marathoner Lee Troop, Commonwealth Games marathon rep Kate Smyth, 6th place finisher in the final of the 3000m steeplechase at the 2008 Olympics Youcef Abdi, Australian 1500m record holder Ryan Gregson, former Austalian 10000m record hold Collis Birmingham, NCAA 1500m champion Charlotte Brownng and Melbourne based Aussie rep Anna Thompson,

Top interstate athletes who have trained with the squad include WA duo Chris De Boer (800m and 1500m) and JP Taylor (800m) plus ACT legends like Philo Saunders and Scott McTaggert.

Juniors on the rise

Quality production line

The Squad has included some of Australia's brightest young running stars such as Australian World Juniors representative Todd Wakefield, World cross country reps Josh Johnson, Harry Summers and Hugh Williams and World Schools cross country reps Zach Rea and Lauren Parsons.

Several other national level juniors on the cusp of national selection include Frank Torok, Jesse Beadman and Ruby Hackett. Younger juniors who have performed really well nationally (often winning!) and in state comps (often winning!) include Nathan Derriman, James King, Marc Kreidman, Morgan McDonald, Rachel Howard, Connor Mulholland, Jordan Williams and Audrey Hall.

These younger runners are taught that winning junior races is fun, but not important. Coach Williams stresses that it is all just a pathway to senior success.The beauty of this squad is that the juniors have plenty of great mentors in the senior runners. They learn much from these senior runners, who in term love helping out their younger trainnig pertners.

There are plenty of junior coaches out there who flog youngsters for short term success. Coach Williams looks at the big picture and the juniors long term success. He has had success in developing young juniors all the way into being top international senior runners.

The world's best performed masters runner in recent years, Keith Bateman, thrives in the squad.

A strong team behind the squad

A wise support network

The best sports medicine staff in Sydney work closely with the squad, with doctors including Dr Trevor Tingate and Dr Irwin Light. Physios working with the squad include Blair Martin, Theo Kaveris and Brent Kirkbride, whilst massage therapists include Gary Howard, Charlie Zammit, Julia Russell and Greta Truscott. Sydney's best running podiatrists Russell Stokes and Caleb Wegner work with several of Sean's athletes.

Sports science now plays such a big role in distance running. Sean works with exercise physiologist and biomechanist Jason McLaren.

Star vets

Young at heart

Sean believes that the most enjoyable aspect of coaching his squad has been that it consists of runners from a wide range of age-groups at a high-performance level.

For example, Keith Bateman, aged 55, has smashed his PBs in every distance from 800m to the half marathon and has broken the 55+ World record at the 1500m, mile, 3000m, 5000m and 10000m

If you would like more information about the squad please contact me here

Hard work (Sweat) is the only path to success

Look at this!

These champions are attacking this hill hard. All champions!

Squad entry requirements

A basic standard is required for a runner to join Sean's main squad.

You must be able to beat one of the times in your age groups as listed below.

If you or your child are not yet able to run these times, Sean can assist you to achieve them with separate group in the Morning Squad, Kids Running Groups, on training camps or with personal training.

Men and women

Juniors

If you would like more information about the squad please contact me here