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The weather was hot and the performances were even hotter, with five World Championships A qualifiers the highlights of the day at the Telstra A-Series opener in Canberra.
Sprint queen Sally McLellan was the star of the show, producing a sizzling 11.25 in the women’s 100 metres – a new personal best (previously 11.36) and more importantly her first world championships A-qualifier in the event.
Raising her arms and pumping her fists in the air when she saw the time, she is now the sixth fastest Australian female of all time.
It capped off a wonderful day for the twenty-year-old, who had earlier defeated Fiona Cullen in the 100 metres hurdles in a super fast 12.88. A +3.9 m/s tailwind meant she will have to wait for another day to formally challenge Pam Ryan’s long standing Australian record of 12.93.
McLennan was well satisfied with an excellent day's work, even if unexpected.
"It's a big relief to have the A-qualifier because you don't know what is going to happen in the next race."
"I wasn't planning anything big today because I've been in hard training due to a few niggly injuries."
"I didn't think I was in good nick but it seems I am now."
The men’s 400m was a brilliant race with the enthusiastic Canberra crowd witnessing two world championships A-qualifiers and two personal best performances. Victorian Sean Wroe and WA’s Chris Troode battled head-to-head down the home straight, with Wroe, the young Victorian, prevailing to clinch his second world championships A-qualifier in 45.34, improving his previous best by the smallest of margins - 0.01 seconds.
Not to be outdone, Troode, who was utterly exhausted when he crossed the line, also recorded an A-qualifier, equalling his personal best set 366 days ago at the same venue.
Canberra is a happy stomping ground for the duo. At the same event in 2006, Wroe and Troode produced their first A-qualifiers behind Clinton Hill, Wroe with 45.35 and Troode in 45.42. The Telstra Selection Trials in Brisbane looms as an enthralling battle.
The showdown in the women’s 800m didn’t disappoint. Seven-time national champion Tamsyn Lewis led from the gun, with hometown favourite Lisa Corrigan biting at her heals waiting to make her move. As they turned into the home straight, Corrigan, with a screaming crowd behind, overtook on the outside, Lewis pushed again but was unable to hold on with Corrigan winning by three metres in 2:01.59 – improving on her previous personal best (2:01.92) that she set when she first defeated Lewis in Sydney two weeks ago.
The duel between the pole vault girls was just as gripping, with Kym Howe and Alana Boyd achieving world A-qualifiers after both clearing 4.45 metres, with the Commonwealth Games Champion Howe winning on a countback to defeat the young Queenslander.
In the much anticipated battle between the reigning world youth and world junior champions in the long jump it was Chris Noffke who emerged victorious - but not without a major battle. Robbie Crowther, who overcame a hamstring complaint to compete, finished fourth (7.71) with Commonweath Games finalist John Thornell returning to form in third place (7.82). But the duel between Noffke and another Commonwealth Games finalist, Tim Parravicini, was the one that entertained the crowds. Parravinici launching himself into the lead with 7.92 in round five before being trumped by Noffke’s 8.05 (+4.3) in round six .
Patrick Johnson demonstrated his form in stylish fashion taking a winning sprint double. In the 100m, Johnson stretched clear of Ambrose Ezenwa to win the 100 metres in 10.29 (+0.8) and backed up with an impressive 20.54 (+2.6) in the 200m.
In other results Commonwealth champion Bronwyn Thompson won the long jump (6.50m), 1997 world champion Beatrice Faumuina (NZL) took revenge for her Commonwealth Games bronze medal defeat by Sydney’s Dani Samuels by unleashing a massive 62.08 effort in the discus to the current world junior champion’s best of 59.05 which was still good enough for a world championships B-qualifier for the young Australian.
Crystal Attenborough (NT) won the women’s 200m in 23.60, whilst Sydney University’s Mark Abercromby picked up the 1500m in 3.49.41. His clubmate, Justin Merlino won the 110m hurdles in a slick 13.83 (+2.8) with another NSW runner Jamiee-Lee Starr capturing the women’s 400m in 53.28.
Local fans were excited by the wins of Lauren Boden and Canberra-based Victorian Brendan Cole in the 400 metres hurdles events in 58.73 and 50.53 respectively.
The Telstra A-Series moves to Sydney next month on Saturday 17 February before the World Athletics Tour component of the series in Melbourne on Friday 2 March.
Next weekend features the NSW Championships before the Graeme Briggs Memorial in Hobart on Friday 9 February.
source Athletics Australia |
