CONCERNS have eased at North Melbourne after promising midfielder Ryan Bastinac won the club's first time trial of 2011 on Tuesday.
Bastinac was first to finish the 3.2km dash around the Princes Park circuit, with his improved display allaying fears the youngster could struggle to maintain the pace he set in his impressive debut season.
The 19-year-old kicked off his second pre-season by winning North's October time trial, but faded to equal 12th around the course in early December.
This time, Bastinac beat home second-year forward Brayden Norris and emerging key forward Lachie Hansen. The trio stopped the clock in around 10 minutes 30 seconds.
Trade-week recruit Cameron Richardson, who won December's time trial, was fourth, while Jack Ziebell was among the big improvers when slashing 30 seconds from his previous best time.
North coach Brad Scott said the club had been mindful of not overloading Bastinac, who blitzed the running drills last summer and played every game in 2010.
"We were a bit concerned about him, to be honest, because he had such a heavy load last year," Scott said.
"We backed him off over December and he's come back in terrific shape, so that's really pleasing."
Another strong performer in the time trial was midfielder Leigh Adams, who had surgery last month to correct an intermittent rapid heart rate.
The procedure was relatively minor and the 22-year-old only missed around 10 days of training.
However, Adams said he was nervous before running his personal best time.
"To be honest I was a little bit hesitant about running today, because obviously it's a pretty tough run and getting the heart rate up so high," Adams said.
"But I got through fine and the heart feels good and the legs feel good, so hopefully most of the conditioning is out of the way and we can get towards the footy stuff now."
Vice-captain Drew Petrie (foot), Hamish McIntosh (achilles), Ben Cunnington (knee), Scott Thompson (knee), Ed Lower (knee) and Nathan Grima (back) did not run.
The top 12
1. RYAN BASTINAC
2. BRAYDEN NORRIS
3. LACHLAN HANSEN
4. CAMERON RICHARDSON
5. JAMIE MACMILLAN
6. BEN WARREN
7. LEVI GREENWOOD
9. SHAUN ATLEY
9. BEN SPEIGHT
11. DANIEL WELLS
11. LEIGH ADAMS
12. ANDREW SWALLOW
