July 24, 2026 • 10 mins
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will be the second career marquee event for national 800m record holder James Preston, having made his Olympic debut at Paris in 2024.
The Wellingtonian heads to his first Commonwealth Games after a coaching change last year, and battling vertigo during the summer domestic season.
He spoke to Adam Cooper ahead of his arrival in Glasgow, a few days out from his heat race on Tuesday night.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, as you heard in the sports news, the Commonwealth
(00:01):
Games campaign for New Zealander is underway, with its first
collection of medals two silvers coming from the pool this morning,
with Wellington swimmer Lewis Clarebert clinching silver in the men's
two hundred meters individual medley, breaking his own national record
in the process and of course bettering from his bronze
he won in this particular discipline in Birmingham four years ago.
(00:22):
Of course, Lewis's four hundred individual medley, his preferred event,
is still to come, along with a couple of other
disciplines he's a part of Erica Fairweather also clinching silver
and the pool and the women's four hundred meters freestyle
this morning, but tied to chat to another Wellington athlete
who was counting down to his campaign at Glasgow, and
that is eight hundred meters runner James Preston, who of
(00:44):
course became a well known household name in the local
athletics scene in early twenty twenty four when he broke
the national eight hundred meters record. That record still stands
and James heading, so, I guess what's his second marquee
event after making his Olympic debut in Paris in twenty
twenty four. James Preston joins us now here on the
All Sports Breakfast County down to his campaign in Glasgow.
(01:08):
Morning to you, James from Wellington. Thanks for your time
and talk us through your final preparations given your race
is in about three nights time for us here in
New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Thanks having me on. It's pretty exciting leading into the Games.
This is kind of my first pinnacle since Paris in
twenty twenty four. I'm so excited to get out there
and give it a crack. Final preparation has been going
really well. Currently based in Spain at the moment, so
I got my last few weeks of hard training and
just ready to taper and get over the siland.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Nice have You've been racing in a range of competitions
in Europe over the past couple of months, several events
across France and Italy. I see, how have the last
couple of months gone to give you an indication of
where you're at approaching these Games.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, the last month has been really good, had some
really solid racing in France and Italy and then a
really good block of training. We've been able to sort
of focus on the more specific racecraft around tectrical racing
and preparing for multiple rounds over a short period of time.
(02:17):
When I initially got to France, it was a bit challenging.
I was struggling with a bit of sickness from the travel.
The training was really good during that time, but just
couldn't quite piece it together in the racing, which was
there up a due question marks. But we got there
in the end, which was really good. So everything's been
sprending quite well.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
And I'm judging by what we are hearing about the
heat waves in Europe and things, I imagine those temperatures
you've had around the Mediterranean area the last month or
so it would be a lot more than what's probably
expected in Scotland this week.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah. So I was based in Bordeaux my first month
month and a half and that was seeing some of
the most some of the highest temperatures in Europe. So
I think for the first forty five days we didn't
have a day under the degrees, with temperatures getting up
to about forty which there were a few curvebles to
how we were training. Luckily, before coming over we've done
(03:14):
a bit of a heat block, so my physiologist maybe
Milden Hall had described some heat work, so we're trying
something new there. But I think it's paid dividends in
the long run, just because I was prepared for the heat.
But yeah, it's probably not quite well, maybe not necessarily
bad prep for Gladsgow, but it's going to be interesting
(03:36):
going into slightly cold temperatures. But certainly would rather be
going from that heat to the cold than the cold
to the heat.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Yeah, fair enough. In twenty twenty six did start well
for you again with another national title in New Zealand.
What were some of your aims that you'd set at
the end of the summer here with the eye to
what's wappening up in the northern hemisphere, no doubt with
the big circle around the Common Games.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Yeah, it's been an interesting in twelve months. So around
ten months ago I switched coaches, so previously worked with
Evan Cooper for ten years and have now switched over
to Justin Rowdy, so learning new set up was quite exciting,
but also there was a few very small reservations just
(04:20):
changing so spent a bit of time over in Melbourne
training with Justin and his group. So that was my
first time training with the group in quite a few years,
so that was really cold to comparing against those guys
and get pushed in training, and then through the domestic
season was mostly happy. Had a few challenges early on
(04:42):
dealing with vestabilia and your artists so vertigo which was
a challenge, but training was spending well and ticked a
few boxes towards him the season with the national title
and then running quickly in Adelaide. So yeah, I I
think it was really just a year of trying to
(05:04):
adjust the new training, see what works, see what doesn't,
and it's been really positive so far.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
So how has all that affected what expectations you're putting
on yourself for for the common games? Now?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yeah, expectations are interesting. I guess the eight hundred is
in a really strong spot at the moment where I
think you could have you could run the same race
ten times with the same people and get ten different outcomes.
So I think taking the expectations day by day and
round by round, trying to progress through and see how
(05:36):
each trace plays out.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
And how closely have you been monitoring your opponents. I
know the field has yet to be completely confirmed, but
have you been scouting some of your potential rivals for
a while at all leading up.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
To this somewhat. I guess it's a mixed bag with
which countries competing the Commonwealth Games and which don't over
here in Europe. So obviously have seen the Australians on
the circuit. I've seen how they've been going. I have
a few of the guys from the English team so
have seen them. But justin in the most complementary and
(06:11):
nicest way possible, is a massive eight hundred meter nerds.
So he seems to know all the eight hundred meter
runners and how they run races and what their strength
and weaknesses are. So it's been quite cool over the
last four months speaking to him before the races and
he seems to know how each day run. So I'll
(06:32):
be sort of leading into some of that experience he
has leading into the Games.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Middle distance running in New Zealand is getting a lot
of attention at the moment. There's some great talent around
you look at you know that yourself, Sam Tana, Sam
Ruth coming through the ranks too. Is it nice to
be part of things right now where we are in
a pretty strong place as a country with competitive runners
across the different distances.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah, it's really exciting. I think in the past we've
probably had more strength than the the mile compared to
the shorter and longer distances. So I think it's pretty
exciting for New Zealand to have athletes qualifying and you
know the eight hundred or fifteen slash mile three case
people with Geordie and still having a lot more depths
(07:16):
up past that the flave and again and even the
half of the mileth on. So yeah, come to see
that depth.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
And you became pretty well known when you broke that
national eight hundred meter record in early twenty twenty four,
which of course still stands was one minute forty four
point oh four. Is maintaining that time and the record
and what you see it's still a benchmark for you.
Do you meajure yourself up against that or do you
have wider aims for what times you're posting and stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, I think it's just to keep on progressing where
I'm at and trying to get better there. So whilst
I guess breaking the record or isn't necessarily the goal,
I always want to run faster, so yeah, I guess
it advertently, Yes, it is nice.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
And what do you want to do when you get
to Glasgow to finish off your final preparations. No doubt
you've got some good experience at the Olympics two years
ago in terms of how you best build up to
a big market event like this, and I guess soaking
up all the festivities as well. So talk us through
what happens when you arrive in Glasgow.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yeah, so we had, as I mentioned, there was some
kind of specific race prep maybe two weeks ago, so
we ran consecutive hard workouts each day, like over two days,
so that gets were used to running rounds. And then
a few days ago we did some like pace change work,
(08:39):
so we were focusing on accelerating over the course of
the reps, so trying to stimulate the more tactical nature
of the races. And from now it's really just freshening up,
load drops off, try not to push anything too hard.
So yeah, that's the real focus. I guess the training
has already been done, so we're really not going to
(09:00):
add anything. If we're going to do it too much, is
only going to be to the detriment of the performance. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Nice, and no doubt you'll be able to get into
the next phase following your heat, which is a few
days away. The semi final is next Friday, then racing
for a metal, hopefully in the final a few days
after that. Now, making that final is that something you
feel you should make or you desperately want to make?
How do your eye that as a goal or a name?
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yeah? I think I would probably be disappointed not to
make the final, but will be curious to see which
athletes are competing in which athletes aren't. I think some
nations opt to not focus on it, so once the
final field draw comes out, that will be quite interesting.
But yes, certainly aiming to try and make that final,
but we'll be taking it day by day.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Brilliant James for watching you all the very best. Thanks
for joining us, James Preston, Wellington eight hundred meters runner.
For more from News Talks, there'd be listen live on
air or online and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
Well, as you heard in the sports news, the Commonwealth
(00:01):
Games campaign for New Zealander is underway, with its first
collection of medals two silvers coming from the pool this morning,
with Wellington swimmer Lewis Clarebert clinching silver in the men's
two hundred meters individual medley, breaking his own national record
in the process and of course bettering from his bronze
he won in this particular discipline in Birmingham four years ago.
(00:22):
Of course, Lewis's four hundred individual medley, his preferred event,
is still to come, along with a couple of other
disciplines he's a part of Erica Fairweather also clinching silver
and the pool and the women's four hundred meters freestyle
this morning, but tied to chat to another Wellington athlete
who was counting down to his campaign at Glasgow, and
that is eight hundred meters runner James Preston, who of
(00:44):
course became a well known household name in the local
athletics scene in early twenty twenty four when he broke
the national eight hundred meters record. That record still stands
and James heading, so, I guess what's his second marquee
event after making his Olympic debut in Paris in twenty
twenty four. James Preston joins us now here on the
All Sports Breakfast County down to his campaign in Glasgow.
(01:08):
Morning to you, James from Wellington. Thanks for your time
and talk us through your final preparations given your race
is in about three nights time for us here in
New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Thanks having me on. It's pretty exciting leading into the Games.
This is kind of my first pinnacle since Paris in
twenty twenty four. I'm so excited to get out there
and give it a crack. Final preparation has been going
really well. Currently based in Spain at the moment, so
I got my last few weeks of hard training and
just ready to taper and get over the siland.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Nice have You've been racing in a range of competitions
in Europe over the past couple of months, several events
across France and Italy. I see, how have the last
couple of months gone to give you an indication of
where you're at approaching these Games.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, the last month has been really good, had some
really solid racing in France and Italy and then a
really good block of training. We've been able to sort
of focus on the more specific racecraft around tectrical racing
and preparing for multiple rounds over a short period of time.
(02:17):
When I initially got to France, it was a bit challenging.
I was struggling with a bit of sickness from the travel.
The training was really good during that time, but just
couldn't quite piece it together in the racing, which was
there up a due question marks. But we got there
in the end, which was really good. So everything's been
sprending quite well.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
And I'm judging by what we are hearing about the
heat waves in Europe and things, I imagine those temperatures
you've had around the Mediterranean area the last month or
so it would be a lot more than what's probably
expected in Scotland this week.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah. So I was based in Bordeaux my first month
month and a half and that was seeing some of
the most some of the highest temperatures in Europe. So
I think for the first forty five days we didn't
have a day under the degrees, with temperatures getting up
to about forty which there were a few curvebles to
how we were training. Luckily, before coming over we've done
(03:14):
a bit of a heat block, so my physiologist maybe
Milden Hall had described some heat work, so we're trying
something new there. But I think it's paid dividends in
the long run, just because I was prepared for the heat.
But yeah, it's probably not quite well, maybe not necessarily
bad prep for Gladsgow, but it's going to be interesting
(03:36):
going into slightly cold temperatures. But certainly would rather be
going from that heat to the cold than the cold
to the heat.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Yeah, fair enough. In twenty twenty six did start well
for you again with another national title in New Zealand.
What were some of your aims that you'd set at
the end of the summer here with the eye to
what's wappening up in the northern hemisphere, no doubt with
the big circle around the Common Games.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Yeah, it's been an interesting in twelve months. So around
ten months ago I switched coaches, so previously worked with
Evan Cooper for ten years and have now switched over
to Justin Rowdy, so learning new set up was quite exciting,
but also there was a few very small reservations just
(04:20):
changing so spent a bit of time over in Melbourne
training with Justin and his group. So that was my
first time training with the group in quite a few years,
so that was really cold to comparing against those guys
and get pushed in training, and then through the domestic
season was mostly happy. Had a few challenges early on
(04:42):
dealing with vestabilia and your artists so vertigo which was
a challenge, but training was spending well and ticked a
few boxes towards him the season with the national title
and then running quickly in Adelaide. So yeah, I I
think it was really just a year of trying to
(05:04):
adjust the new training, see what works, see what doesn't,
and it's been really positive so far.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
So how has all that affected what expectations you're putting
on yourself for for the common games? Now?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yeah, expectations are interesting. I guess the eight hundred is
in a really strong spot at the moment where I
think you could have you could run the same race
ten times with the same people and get ten different outcomes.
So I think taking the expectations day by day and
round by round, trying to progress through and see how
(05:36):
each trace plays out.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
And how closely have you been monitoring your opponents. I
know the field has yet to be completely confirmed, but
have you been scouting some of your potential rivals for
a while at all leading up.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
To this somewhat. I guess it's a mixed bag with
which countries competing the Commonwealth Games and which don't over
here in Europe. So obviously have seen the Australians on
the circuit. I've seen how they've been going. I have
a few of the guys from the English team so
have seen them. But justin in the most complementary and
(06:11):
nicest way possible, is a massive eight hundred meter nerds.
So he seems to know all the eight hundred meter
runners and how they run races and what their strength
and weaknesses are. So it's been quite cool over the
last four months speaking to him before the races and
he seems to know how each day run. So I'll
(06:32):
be sort of leading into some of that experience he
has leading into the Games.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Middle distance running in New Zealand is getting a lot
of attention at the moment. There's some great talent around
you look at you know that yourself, Sam Tana, Sam
Ruth coming through the ranks too. Is it nice to
be part of things right now where we are in
a pretty strong place as a country with competitive runners
across the different distances.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah, it's really exciting. I think in the past we've
probably had more strength than the the mile compared to
the shorter and longer distances. So I think it's pretty
exciting for New Zealand to have athletes qualifying and you
know the eight hundred or fifteen slash mile three case
people with Geordie and still having a lot more depths
(07:16):
up past that the flave and again and even the
half of the mileth on. So yeah, come to see
that depth.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
And you became pretty well known when you broke that
national eight hundred meter record in early twenty twenty four,
which of course still stands was one minute forty four
point oh four. Is maintaining that time and the record
and what you see it's still a benchmark for you.
Do you meajure yourself up against that or do you
have wider aims for what times you're posting and stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, I think it's just to keep on progressing where
I'm at and trying to get better there. So whilst
I guess breaking the record or isn't necessarily the goal,
I always want to run faster, so yeah, I guess
it advertently, Yes, it is nice.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
And what do you want to do when you get
to Glasgow to finish off your final preparations. No doubt
you've got some good experience at the Olympics two years
ago in terms of how you best build up to
a big market event like this, and I guess soaking
up all the festivities as well. So talk us through
what happens when you arrive in Glasgow.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yeah, so we had, as I mentioned, there was some
kind of specific race prep maybe two weeks ago, so
we ran consecutive hard workouts each day, like over two days,
so that gets were used to running rounds. And then
a few days ago we did some like pace change work,
(08:39):
so we were focusing on accelerating over the course of
the reps, so trying to stimulate the more tactical nature
of the races. And from now it's really just freshening up,
load drops off, try not to push anything too hard.
So yeah, that's the real focus. I guess the training
has already been done, so we're really not going to
(09:00):
add anything. If we're going to do it too much, is
only going to be to the detriment of the performance. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Nice, and no doubt you'll be able to get into
the next phase following your heat, which is a few
days away. The semi final is next Friday, then racing
for a metal, hopefully in the final a few days
after that. Now, making that final is that something you
feel you should make or you desperately want to make?
How do your eye that as a goal or a name?
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yeah? I think I would probably be disappointed not to
make the final, but will be curious to see which
athletes are competing in which athletes aren't. I think some
nations opt to not focus on it, so once the
final field draw comes out, that will be quite interesting.
But yes, certainly aiming to try and make that final,
but we'll be taking it day by day.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Brilliant James for watching you all the very best. Thanks
for joining us, James Preston, Wellington eight hundred meters runner.
For more from News Talks, there'd be listen live on
air or online and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
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