Athlete Profiles

Name: Jonny Matthews
Nickname: Jonny? Mum’s holding onto Jonny Whoops
Occupation: Bartender
Dream Occupation: Manage hotels in South America
Years Running: I've been with Tim since 2002 I think. And have had some breaks in between...
Spoon Earring! Please explain: Haha. Just a bit of fun. At least it got your attention!
PBs: 800m; 2 min 0 sec. 1500m; 4 min 11 sec. Tan; 12 min 27 sec. 10k; 32 min 52 sec.
Favourite Event: I love the Vic Milers meets; any twilight track meet is exciting. Tan relays are also great fun.
Why Do You Run: Lots of reasons. Main one being for the thrill of the competition.
Best Performance: 800 & 1500 double at the ACC athletics finals in 2005, last year of school. It was a HUGE day for me.
Favourite Session: It always used to be the short, fast stuff, 400's usually. But I’m getting used to liking the longer reps, sort of...
Most Admired Athlete: I couldn't name just one. Michael Jordan, Hicham El Guerrouj, Muhammad Ali. They all revolutionised the way they played their respective sport.
Describe Tim Crosbie In One Sentence: Oh my goodness gracious me. Just joking, uum. Something about him helps you test your limits, and want to achieve things previously thought impossible.
Favourite Shoes: My Red Nike Air Zooms
Life Highlight: Watching Anchorman for the very first time.
Life low-point: When the movie finished...
Favourite Drink: Orange crush cordial. Childish I know, but at least I didn't lie!
Favourite Restaurant: Love Japanese food, but I have to say Venezia Pizza.
What 3 People Would You Invite To Dinner & What Would You Cook For Them: Hicham El Guerrouj, Will Ferrell, & Nelson Mandella. Spaghetti is on the menu, because I know how to cook it. It’s either spaghetti or barbeque.
Other Hobbies: Surfing, driving, going out with friends, pestering Tim.
Dream date: Dan Hornery. If he was unavailable (like he so often seems to be...) then James King (only until Lola Martinico grows up). I assure you it's a girl.. with a boys name.
How Much Did Your Car Cost: $300!!!
At What Speed Does It Start To Shake: Don't be smart.
Favourite Quote: "Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."
Favourite Movie: A Night At The Roxbury
Favourite Music: Anything, really. Love it all.
Three Things You Want To Do Before You Die: Travel the world (Africa, Spain, India, Greek Islands), own a border collie and name him Bobby, & run a sub 4 minute mile.
Superstitions: When I get nervous I tend to take a while with putting on my clothing, namely the shoes. It's an obsessive compulsive behaviour I’ve had for a while now. embarrassing, I know.
Party Tricks: None. I'm still looking for one.
What your friends have to say about you: - “Jonny Mathews! Whoa, the kid is fast, with legs that long and a stride length to match, how could you not be a runner? I’m sure if he wasn’t so hairy he’d probably be the fastest man alive.”
- “After a few years spent sowing his wild oats, 'little' Johnny is back in the game. Watch HVT's own Buster look-alike take on the cream of Victoria's track runners in coming years and make a name for himself.”
- “This summer runners are going to come from far and wide to have one last shot at the rising star because after this summer he is going to be untouchable.”

Name: Georgia Shaw
Nickname: G, Jo
Dream Occupation: Professional marathon runner
Years Running: 3
PBs: 3hrs 32minutes 23seconds Gold Coast marathon 2006
Why Do You Run: Ever since I was tiny I have wanted to be a runner and even though I was incredibly slow, I never stopped dreaming. I have always wanted to win a marathon, to be a marathon champion!
Best Performance: Probably Gold Coast
Most Admired Sportsperson: Robert DeCastella
Favourite Shoes: My Red Nike Air Zooms
Life Highlight: Having my daughter and son 1995 and 1997. Torquay half Ironman 2006 Gold Coast marathon 2006. The Bright Alpine Climb 2006.
Life low-point: Leaving Morwell )-:
Favourite Drink: Rockmelon, watermelon, apple, carrot, celery, and ginger juice. Or banana & milk.
Favourite Holiday Destination: Noosa
Do your kids ever slow down?: After I make them ride their bikes while I train. Are kids supposed to ride that far? I don't know but it helps.
What 3 people would you invite to dinner: Ian Thorpe can come over, Oprah Winfrey (throw some of that dosh this way please) and Kerryn McCann.
Other Hobbies: Love puzzles, cooking, hanging out with Tash and James.
Dream date: Ian Thorpe
Favourite Quote: "Be Careful what you wish for"
Favourite Music: Beyonce this week
Three Things You Want To Do Before You Die: 2:47: 48 marathon (I might just die doing it). Take my kids on a holiday. Become Prime Minister, I know a little about a lot of things...
Superstitions: I believe in Ghosts
Party Tricks: Singing perfectly when drunk
What your friends have to say about you: - “Georgia is so thoughtful, positive to be around and has the confidence to think anything is possible! If I could bottle and sell her enthusiasm, I would make a fortune. Go Girl!!!!”
- “Can’t” and “never” aren’t in Georgia’s dictionary. “Can” and “will” have taken their place.”
- “Eager Beaver; nothing more has to be said.”

Name: Jason Eagleton
Nickname: Jaymondo
Occupation: Chef
Dream Occupation: Food Writer
Years Running: 3
PBs: 1500 (4:07) 5k (16:06) 10k Sandown (33:2?) 1 lap lake (15:23) 2 laps (31:20) half (73:??)
Your Tan PB- please explain!: 12.2? – hills….who needs them!
Favourite Event: Love a 5k fun run & Victorian Milers 1500
Best Performance: Last 1500m (Victorian Milers)
Most admired athlete: de Castella for old school guts!
Why Do You Run: To beat little punks like Hornery!
Favourite Training Session: Straight sets, 1k's @ Lexus track or 400's @ Sandy track
Racing shoes: Asics Hyper ld (the commodore of spikes as Crosbie puts it)
Life Highlight: Getting married (soft I know)
Life low-point: My last hangover!
Why did you become a chef: Fell into it overseas and haven’t looked back
Favourite Drink: Crown Lager
Favourite Restaurant: Ladro for Melbourne’s best pizza and suckling pig
What 3 people would you invite to dinner (and what would you cook for them): Marco Pier White, Antonio Caluccio, Jamie Oliver. An Italian feast with whatever is in season. It would definitely finish with freshly churned vanilla bean ice cream and roasted peaches.
Other Hobbies: Painting, cross country mtb racing (I can ride it but not run it!).
Dream date: Scarlet Johansson
How did you propose to Fleur: We were out for dinner in Rome; I popped the question, she said yes. We both got very drunk, slept in, missed our plane and had to spend the next couple of days in Germany. it was a very memorable night!
Favourite Quote: "Some people don’t have the guts for distance racing. The polite term for it is sprinters!"
Favourite Music: U2, def leopard and the 80's
Three Things You Want To Do Before You Die: Build a beach house, have kids, write a cook book.
Superstitions: Avoid 13 when possible
Party Tricks: Yes I’ve got a ripper, but I have to show you out one night.
What your friends have to say about you: - “The Iron Chef of the HVT Squad. Whatever secret ingredient the coach introduces to a training session, Jason will transform it into a physical delicacy to be savoured like the finest cuisine."
- "A great bloke and a man who I thought had much potential. That slightly rough, unshaved hard-man exterior is the ultimate façade; the man gives in to the pain when the times get tough. Don’t get me wrong, he’s got a theory or excuse which seems perfectly rational in his own mind. My advice, stick to what you are good at mate… cooking."
- "The man I wish I had married- he would have taken me to Ladro! I have been begging my current husband to go for a long time!"

Name: Anton Dunhill
Nickname: Anton
Occupation: Lawyer
Dream Occupation: Lawyer (I am one sick puppy, I know)
Years Running: About 3 (there has been sporadic running since 1995)
PBs: Double Tan - 31.37, Olympic Dream 41.13, Puffing Billy 56.52, Run for the Kids 1.1.11
Favourite Event: Puffing Billy
Best Performance: Sliding in the mud and off the path during the Puffing Billy run, but coming home strong
Most admired athlete: Andre Agassi
Why Do You Run: to outrun the people at gym who are big enough to beat me up...;o) Actually, I run because I can (and previously couldn't)...
Favourite Training Session: It used to be 10 Airlie St Hills but since I went soft on hills, it's a three-way tie between: 21km Kew run; Lexus track: 1400, 1200, 1000, 800, 600, 400, 200; and the Ganly: 500, 800, 1k, 1k, 800, 500
Racing shoes: Nike Air Zoom Elite
How many pairs of running shoes do you own: 4 Brooks Beasts (I chew through them), a pair of Nike Air Zooms for racing, 1 pair spikes and 1 pair distance spikes.
Life Highlight: Birth
Life low-point: Close tie between my (eventual) death and when I ran a 43 min 10k race.
Favourite Book: Twenty love poems and a song of despair - Pablo Neruda
Favourite Drink: Vodka on the rocks - preferably Manuka Honey, Ursus, Smirnoff Blue or anything more than 100 proof (50% alc/vol)
Favourite Food: Scrambled eggs on toast with a bucket-sized skinny latte!
Favourite Restaurant: Sud-Ouest (Latin Qrtr, Paris), Los Dos Molinos (Phoenix, Arizona), Caliente Cab Co (New York City) and in lowly Melbourne: Orita's Japanese Fusion, Urban Burger & Mr Natural Pizza
What 3 people would you invite to dinner: Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill and John McEnroe.
Other Hobbies: the Arts, Gym, Skiing
Dream date: Monica Belluci
Worst Pick-Up Line You Have Ever Used (and did it work??): "Would you like to get some lunch or perhaps come for a walk [along the beach]?" (Yes it did)
Favourite Quote: "A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts." - Steve Prefontaine
Favourite Music: Very eclectic - ranging from indie, pop and golden oldiesto classical and opera. Recent listens are: Snow Patrol, Killers, Filter, Black Eyed Peas, K's Choice, Santana, Tori Amos, and Sade.
Three Things You Want To Do Before You Die: 1. Defeat Puffing Billy - the b*stard train that speeds up in the wet!
2. Dynamite Puffing Billy to ensure 1 occurs.
3.Become faster so 1 can occur without the need for 2.
Superstitions: I try to avoid sitting with my back to a door/entrance
Party Tricks: Out-drinking WC Fields
What your friends have to say about you: - “He is the Imelda Marcos of the Melbourne running scene but the shoes don’t make the man.”
- "Anton is an inspiration to all those who think competitive running is just a dream. Since joining HVT he has progressed from the babycino squad and can now hold his head up high as an established latte member"
- "Would never get a gig in a Nike 'Just Do It' campaign. For Anton it's never a case of just doing it - more like why do it, where will doing it lead me, is there an alternate way to doing it, are others doing it, what if I do it this way and what shoes should I wear while doing it."

Name: Victoria Brown
Nickname: Brownie
Occupation: Physiotherapist
Years Running: About 10
PBs: 800m (2:15), 10km (controversial 39.59), half marathon (1.41)
Favourite Event: 800m
Why Do You Run: So I can eat as much food as I like
Are you happy knowing that you are cloned from Kirsten and knowing what you will look like in 20 years?: An honour, however I will not be flying to Sydney for a “miracle” masseuse
How does it feel knowing that you are dating Athletics Victoria’s 2005 most eligible bachelor?: I'm not. Lou is
Explain your infatuation with HVT’s ugliest runner – Andrew Presnell? Should Lou be worried?: I ask you, how can you not love a man who shows up to training with peeling shins, tucks his shirt into his skins and runs with such a beautiful, flowing running technique. I am not the only girl Lou should be worried about!!
Tell us some secrets about your race preparation? Rumour is that you also recommend a night of boozing and dancing?: My secrets can not be revealed, a lady never tells. As for the boozing and drinking, a few PBs have been made with this preparation. This applies to not just me…
How is it that you are a physio yet you are constantly injured and display severe inflexibility?: Perhaps it’s just that I’m a hypochondriac. But at least I’m not a medical student who can’t race without getting a stitch (sorry Jules)
Is it true that you are unable to name more the 5 peoples surnames in the HVT running group?: Yes and those five should feel very privileged.
Why is it that the coat hangers in your wardrobe have to be all the same colour, the same type and all facing the same direction?: Hey, who is telling everyone all my secrets? I think I know the person responsible for some of these questions. To be a successful and committed athlete you need to display consistency and dedication in your work, I start with my wardrobe. Hopefully, eventually this will show in my training.
What your friends have to say about you: - "Classy, stylish and always looks good on and off the track. Too bad her choice in men is somewhat lacking."
- “Typical sprinter; more worried about coordinating her outfits than her performance, although her 2.15 after a big night of tom foolery was impressive.”
- "Without doubt the hottest babe in IAAF world athletics and the only known physio to have a third of each week's salary debited direct to Body Bronze. How does Tamsyn keep getting a run in Ralph/FHM etc whilst Brownie misses out? Special talents include smiling and giggling whilst going lactic during interval sessions and struggling with the names of her training partners."

Name: Andrew Presnell
Age: 36
Nickname: Pres
Occupation: Business Analyst – AXA Australia
Fantasy Occupation: Whatever Tim Crosbie does
PBs: 3000m (10.19), Tan (13.36), 10k (38.36), Half marathon (84.28)
Best Performance: Falling out of the bath on morning of 2005 City to Surf flat onto back on concrete floor then loading up on Neurofen, fronting up and finishing in top 800. Guts.
Favourite Event: 10km and Caulfield Cup
Why Do You Run: To beat Kirsten over 10k (undefeated in head to head combat) and Matty Sandilands over the mile and City to Surf (ditto)
How many pairs of running shoes do you own: 5 with another couple on the way
Years Running: About 20 (but only seriously since 2004)
Most Admired Sportsperson: Kylie Dick (the only HVT athlete as tough as me)
Favourite Food: Hot chips
Personal Quote: “If you start arguing with fools – soon people can’t tell the difference.” (Denis Pagan)
Favourite Superhero: Spiderman
What 3 people would you invite to dinner: Greg Norman, Kenensia Bikele, Donald Trump
Life Highlight: Finishing a 15 x 400m set last winter
Other Hobbies: Gambling, golf course architecture, current affairs
Superstitions: If I’m playing two up I always back the last combination that came up
Favourite Drink: Chocolate milk, Victorian red wine
Favourite Restaurant: Donovan’s, Jim’s Greek Tavern
Music: Paul Kelly, Mick Thomas, The Waifs
Dream Date: Jodie Henry, Georgie Clarke, Sarah Jamieson + any other gun looking sportswomen
Who is the boss at home: No comment
Can you explain the house keeping arrangements with you and Louise: I provide the strategic direction and project management capability
Misconceptions about me: 1) That I’m a slave to rampant consumerism. A total lie. I just use the internet to its maximum bargain-delivering potential.
2) That I put in soft efforts on the training track/race day.
3) That I’m always late. This one’s a complete fabrication. Blokes like Bailey and Schulberg rock up late to every session and get off scot free. I’m just an easy target.
What your friends have to say about you: - In one word - soft. Makes Nick Daffy look like Jack Dyer.
- Known as the Lexus Tinkerbelle, the fairy stepping Pres is a running enigma. Always dressed in the latest gear with gadgets and accessories to match, his running ability is sadly lacking.
- Ahhh Presnell, the male model of HVT. What is missing on the track is certainly made up for off it. The man oozes pheromones - how can I compete with that? I’m so glad his lung capacity ability isn’t as big as his mojo!
- Ugliest running style I have ever seen. Children should be made to look the other way when he steps on the track!