Keene regrets mistakes at titles
Goldfields strongman Rongo Keene improved by two places, but lamented "little mistakes" after finishing third at last month's New Zealand titles.
Work commitments forced Keene to miss the main lead-up event, the Australian Strongman titles in Melbourne, but he defied the odds to grab a podium finish.
He had finished fifth at the same event a year earlier in his first competition.
"I could have won it, but little mistakes cost me," Keene said.
"In this sport, the little things really matter and it can be a simple case of not getting a proper grip or a little slip here and there.
"Again, I felt I could have won, but I'm happy because there were some big athletes there."
Keene, who combines a rigorous training schedule with running his scaffolding business, said he had benefitted from being more relaxed.
"I definitely felt a lot more comfortable this time compared to last year, when it was my first competition," he said.
"Now I've got some experience under my belt and working towards improving every time."
Keene's victory in the heavyweight division last October at the WA titles occurred just six months after taking up the sport.
He now has his sights on a big showing at the State Log Lifting Championships in Perth on June 6 before targeting the nationals in Sydney in August.
If self-belief is a key for success, Keene should do well.
"At the moment, I'm right up there with some of the best in Australia, maybe second," he said.
"I'm at a point where I can press more than 160kg over my head for the standing press.
"The biggest thing for me is consistency with training, no matter what time it is - the hard times are when no-one else wants to train with you, when it's dark and cold and everyone else is sleeping, but it's what makes a champion."
Keene's success has drawn others to train out of the local star's home gym.
"I've even got my own local crew now-five guys training with me out of my back shed and competing," he said.
"It's really positive because they're actively involved and giving me 100 per cent of their time and effort."
