National Athletics Championships: Bruce McAvaney delivers ominous Peter Bol warning

Channel 7 expert Bruce McAvaney has delivered an ominous warning ahead of the National Athletics Championships, declaring West Australian 800m star Peter Bol is running better than when he finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics. And it comes as he also flagged champion Pole Vaulter Nina Kennedy to not only star at the national level in Sydney this weekend, but also head to this year’s Commonwealth Games as the gold medal favourite. Bol endured one of the toughest periods of his life after that career night in Japan in 2021, falsely accused of blood doping. He was cleared after a six-month investigation, but it significantly hampered his Paris campaign. However, just months out from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, McAvaney, who headlines 7’s commentary team for the national championships, which will be broadcast live on free-to-air TV and 7Plus, believes the 32-year-old is primed to dominate. “Pete’s running, I think, better than he’s ever run, that includes when he was fourth in the Olympics,” he told The West Australian. “He’s in a brilliant spot at the moment; he’s got really strong competition, but he’s the obvious favourite. “He’s really focused on trying to win that Commonwealth Games gold medal. He was second four years ago. “It’s very hard, the Commonwealth Games. In most middle-distance track events, you think about the Kenyans, and they are incredibly hard to overcome. “Britain also has very strong middle-distance runners, so he’s going to have his hands full in Glasgow. But I think he’s tracking so well.” McAvaney said that while dealing with those allegations must have been difficult, Bol should be proud of how he had rebounded. “For him personally, it was so frustrating, and he must have been so angry. But he’s been able to pull himself out and get back to where he was in that Olympic year of 2021, and I think he’s even running better,” he said. “He’s a wonderful guy and a mentor, a gentleman who a lot of athletes look up to, and I think he absolutely relishes that responsibility and takes it seriously, but with a smile.” The former AFL commentator was even more glowing on Olympic gold medallist Kennedy, who is an unbackable favourite in the women’s pole vault on Saturday afternoon. “Nina has gone through a hell of a lot. She’s had so many highs and lows, but she’s got a resilience about her that’s so endearing,” he said. “She’s the girl next door in so many ways because she never gives up, and she’s an absolute inspiration.” He even backed her to claim gold in Glasgow. “Nina, as long as she doesn’t get injured, she’s the strong favourite to win at the Commonwealth Games,” he said. “New Zealand have got three very good pole vaulters. Canada has one extremely good pole vaulter. The Brits have got somebody who will probably start as the favourite in their eyes, so it’s going to be a very difficult competition in Glasgow for Nina. “But I’d back her in.” Kennedy will be in action from 4.30pm on Saturday, while Bol runs the 800m heat from 5.47pm on the same day.