Dan McKenzie has ripped the 3km time trial apart, achieving a personal-best (PB) time in the Saints’ first full-team run on Monday morning.
The running machine emerged as a reliable option for St Kilda down back in 2018, and this morning’s blitzing finish was symbolic of his determination to keep his senior spot.
Ed Phillips continued to showcase his impressive tank, storming home in second place, while young draft prospect Tom Jok pushed himself hard to finish third.
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Midfielders Seb Ross, Jack Sinclair and Jack Newnes also finished strongly, with newly re-signed goalsneak Jack Lonie rounding out the leading pack.
Veteran Nathan Brown maintained a constant presence on the training track at RSEA Park throughout the off-season, exuding the professionalism and drive that’s endeared him to both teammates and fans alike.
The big defender charged out in front early on in the piece with vocal support from both his teammates and the entire football department.
Veteran Nathan Brown ran a PB after leading the pack early.
But it wasn’t just McKenzie who impressed, as no less than 12 Saints registered PBs.
Head of High Performance Matt Hornsby was wrapt with the group’s output, highlighting the raft of PBs achieved.
“Clearly today showed that the group’s done the work in the off-season,” he told saints.com.au.
When you get a fair chunk of guys who run PBs, including senior guys like a Nathan Brown, then that’s a great sign and a great example for what’s a fairly young list at the moment.
“Browny really challenged himself and ran to absolute threshold, and it showed in his results.”
Hornsby also made mention of the Saints’ top finishers, who each impressed coaching staff in their own right.
“Guys like Jack Newnes, Seb Ross, Jack Sinclair, Ed Phillips, Jack Lonie and clearly Dan McKenzie, who are all elite runners, they really showed that today and set a great pace for the rest of the group,” he said.
“It was a really pleasing start, and I think it gives the group a lot of belief.
“We know they’re a really strong athletic group anyway, but it’s always nice when they actually get the results to back that up.”
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Youngsters Hunter Clark, Nick Coffield and Brandon White were among others to improve.
“‘Hunts’, ‘Coff’ and ‘Whitey’ all improved quite a lot,” Hornsby said.
“They’re really good examples of younger guys still learning the pace of a 3km.
“Every time trial they do is a learning experience and an opportunity to improve, and we expect that they would improve in every one they do.
“They’re heading in the right direction, and they’ve got some pretty awesome runners out in front of them to show them the way.”
