|
Australia's top 3000m steeplechaser Peter Nowill has been named in the World Championships Team to compete in Helsinki August 6-14.
This addition comes after his impressive performance at the IAAF Grand Prix in Osaka (Saturday 7th May), where Nowill eclipsed the A qualifying mark by over half a second to clock 8:23.93. Nowill finished fourth place behind the Kenyan trio of Wesley Kiprotich (8:17.31), Richard Matelong (8:17.60), Julius Nyamu (8:19.83).
Athletics Australia National Performance Director Max Binnington says Nowill can now fully focus on his preparations for the meet "selectors made the decision to announce Peter’s inclusion outside the final team additions at beginning of June, so he can get on with his preparations rather than be distracted by the waiting game. Final track and field selections will be named in early June, after the qualifying periods close".
Nowill joins a talented team which includes a defending World Champion, a former World Cross Country Champion, two Olympic bronze medallists, a former world champion and the world’s newest member of the six metre pole vault club.
World 400m hurdles Champion Jana Pittman will aim to defend her world title in Helsinki and will join current world number one walker Jane Saville, fellow Olympic bronze medallist Nathan Deakes, World Cross Country champion Benita Johnson and world class pole vaulter and Olympic finalist Paul Burgess, as Australia’s best medal hopes.
Australian Team @ 17th May 2005:
MEN
100m - Joshua Ross (N)
200m - Daniel Batman
400m - Clinton Hill* (N)
5000m - Craig Mottram (V)
20km Walk - Nathan Deakes (V), Luke Adams (N), Jarred Tallent (V)
50km Walk - Nathan Deakes (V)
3000m Steeplechase – Peter Nowill
Marathon -Scott Wescott (N)
Pole Vault - Paul Burgess (W), Steve Hooker (V), Dmitri Markov (S)
Shot Put - Justin Anlezark** (Q)
4x100m Relay - Batman, Patrick Johnson (A), Kris Neofytou*** (N), Ross, Matt Shirvington (N) [one athlete may be added]
WOMEN
200m -Lauren Hewitt (V)
1500m - Sarah Jamieson (V)
5000m - Benita Johnson (V)
400m Hurdles - Jana Pittman^ (N)
20km Walk - Jane Saville (N), Cheryl Webb (N)
Heptathlon - Kylie Wheeler (W)
* selected subject to achieving one B standard by close of entries (25 July 2005)
** selected subject to achieving two B standards by close of entries (25 July 2005)
*** selected subject to a fitness test
^ defending champion
NB:
In the marathon, Benita Johnson and Lee Troop have posted A qualifiers, however Johnson is focusing on another event, while Troop is unavailable due to injury.
|
