Glasgow: A home Commonwealth Games is the carrot enticing Canberra hammer thrower Tim Driesen to stay fit for another four years.
The 30-year-old national champion finished fifth behind Canadian gold medallist Jim Steacy (74.16 metres) in the hammer final on Tuesday night with a season-best throw of 69.94m.
The result capped a successful campaign in Glasgow through which Driesen successfully managed his niggling hip complaint.
It’s that injury that forced Driesen to switch from discus to the hammer six years ago.
He threw the hammer in Delhi at the 2010 Commonwealth Games after narrowly missing a spot on the Australian discus team in Melbourne eight years ago.
“I did qualify but there were a few boys that pipped me out [in 2006],” Driesen said.
“It would be nice doing a home Games but I am getting on a little too.
“We’ll see how the body goes, I’ll get back and have a think about things. It’ll be hard to stop throwing but four years is a long way.”
Driesen will leave Glasgow early next week satisfied with his improved performance after finishing seventh in Delhi.
His only disappointment is not breaking through the 70m barrier which taunted him like a forcefield throughout the final. Four of his six throws landed somewhere between 69 and 70 metres.
“It’s been a massive learning curve and I’m still learning what I have to do and how to do it, it’s just something that develops over time,” Driesen said.
“It’s all experience. The last few years I’ve been coaching myself and working on my throwing technique.
“I’m pretty happy with that considering how the season’s gone with all the niggles. Two good throws in a row, made the final, came fifth, improved on Delhi, I’m happy.”
