We were lucky enough to catch up with Melissa Breen to discuss her appearance in Croatia, in what should be a perfect lead up event to the Commonwealth Games in October.

Runnerstribe: You have been running some fantastic times in training over the past month (including a 10.9h wind assisted 100m performance), especially considering the cold wintery days in Canberra!! Do you believe that you could be in PB form entering both the Continental Cup and then the Commonwealth Games?

Melissa Breen: Thank you, training has been going so well, I can’t wait to start racing in Europe (ed: Melissa ran 11.59sec over 100m in her debut in Europe on the 29th August - in Rieti, Italy), I guess I go by the saying as, control the things you can control, I have put myself in the best  possible position to run a personal  best before the Commonwealth Games, now we just need the hot conditions and a nice tail wind! I know I am in the right shape, I just have to now relax and let it happen.

Runnerstribe: With some quality athletes running in Croatia in the women’s 100m (including Shalonda Solomon and Blessing Okagbare), what would be your aim in terms of a final placing?

Melissa: My aim is to win, I have to go into the race believing that otherwise what am I doing there? (ed: a great philosophy, regardless of the competition). It is a great opportunity in Croatia to have such a quality field, something I have never really experienced before at a senior level, it excites me and I know I can rise to the occasion!