Jasper the surfer from Newcastle riding high in his first pro season

Date: 30th March 2023

Landscaper, barman, guitarist and surfer Jasper Thomas feels the trek from Merewether in Newcastle, NSW, has been well worth it to join his first pro running season this year. Jasper has made such an impact this season he’s one of the favourites for this year’s Powercor Stawell Gift.

“My first year in the pro running scene has been thoroughly enjoyable so far,” said Jasper who is a country boy originally from Gunnedah in rural NSW. He finished 6th in his first professional race which was the 70m at Essendon, 2nd at the Waverley Gift and was the winner in both the 70m at the Newcastle Gift and the 100m Beachside Gift in February.

“I’m so grateful how my year of training has transferred to success on the track throughout the season. This will be my first Stawell Gift and I’m excited to showcase my year of training and allow for the experience to fuel me going into the next season.”

Part of Bruce Gulliver’s squad in Newcastle, Jasper has been told by his teammates – which include 2017 Stawell Gift winner Matt Rizzo – of the Easter carnival’s importance in the history of Australian athletics.

“I don’t feel I can speak about just how special Stawell is until I have completed my first one. Listening to the talk surrounding Stawell at training I have been able to make sense of how important and deeply rooted in this sport it is – especially coming from Matt Rizzo, who I am lucky enough to be training alongside. 

“To win Stawell would be incredible! To showcase the hard work that goes into such an outstanding achievement would be life changing. My squad and coach have been essential in my achievements so far in the season. Bruce Gulliver has been an incredible insight into the world of pro running, and I wouldn’t be where I am without him. A few mentions of training partners in Matthew Rizzo, Jack Newman and Hugh Sharman. These boys have allowed for competition and support during training which has resulted in each of us getting better and better throughout the season. I couldn’t fault them.

Jasper was hoping for a mark of 6.5m but the VAL rules state that his win at Beachside does not qualify for a lift in the 21-year-old’s first season of pro running. “Whichever mark I am dealt, my mindset stays the same. I’m there to put in my best performance and the mark won’t change that.” He has been given 5.5m.

“Outside of my squad, I don’t know many of the other runners very well. I can only speak of Saye Morris who beat me at Waverley and has looked to be in great form in the 70m I watched at Beachside. 

“From my squad, Jack Newman is in a good position and very competitive on his current mark. I am fully aware that if Rizzo runs the race I know he can, he will be incredibly difficult to hold back from his current mark. You can never doubt the impact of not only Stawell final’s experience, but the experience of being a past Stawell winner. This allows for a level of confidence that others just don’t have.”

 

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