Rookie Eugene Kruger has again led the pack in the first 3km time trial of the pre-season with senior players Alex Johnson, Nathan Gordon and Luke Parker also impressive performers.

Kruger broke away from Gordon and Johnson in the second lap of the 1.5km course but the pair came back at him in the last part of the race and they all crossed one second apart - Kruger followed by Gordon and then Johnson.

All three ran the cross country course in Centennial Park in under 10 minutes, with Johnson smashing his personal best over the distance by 16 seconds. Kruger and Gordon were just outside their personal bests, but have plenty of time to better themselves over the pre-season.

Johnson’s run was a fantastic performance for a player with his physique - he is 193cms - and was proof he had not rested on his laurels in the break after playing 20 senior games this year.

Coach John Longmire said it was a good effort from most of the players, with Johnson one of the standouts.

“Alex Johnson played 20 games last year as a young kid and he’s come back and run really well first up. But different players are at different stages of their rehab and pre-season campaigns. A few of them ran well and a few of them have a bit of work to do,’’ Longmire said.

Dan Hannebery, who only started his off-season running program last week after shoulder surgery in September, also ran strongly to finish fourth.

“Dan is a natural athlete who prepares himself like a real pro. He is one of those you never have to worry about,’’ Longmire said.

Hannebery was happy enough with his run but will be pushing to get back in the top three in the next 3km time trial.

Kruger, 20, has been retained on the rookie list for 2012 after joining the club a year ago. He is a rugby convert and spent the season developing his game in the Swans reserves.

A talented all-round athlete who led the 3km trial a year ago when he was just trying for a spot on the rookie list, Kruger says he was nervous ahead of today’s time trial.

“There are high expectations on me now with my running and I wanted to fulfill those again,’’ Eugene said.

“I knew I’d worked hard in the break but I didn’t know how the other boys would go and I knew there’d be tough competition.

“Over the pre-season I know Dan, Jono, Nipper and I will push each other to better times.

“These runs are important. I need to keep my fitness up but also work on my skills. I don’t want to be looked at as just a runner. I want to be looked at as a footballer.’’

The club’s Elite Performance Coach, Rob Spurrs, sets programs for all the players to do in their break with the aim that they return for the start of pre-season in strong condition.

“They generally presented themselves in a good state today,’’ Spurrs said.

Apart from Alex Johnson’s 16 second PB, midfielder Luke Parker also showed he had worked hard in the six week break when he ran a PB today.

Trent Dennis-Lane impressed too and was only a few seconds away from the PB he set much later in the pre-season last year.

Players with one to three years AFL experience returned to the Club today, and the older players will return progressively over the next two weeks.

The young players will continue their pre-season tomorrow with upper body weights, and there’s no rest on Saturday as they do another session.

Keep visiting sydneyswans.com.au for regular pre-season updates.