Bronze for Jamieson in Stuttgart

Fighting back after a disappointing World Championships campaign, Victorian Sarah Jamieson collected the bronze medal in the women’s 1500m at the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart overnight.

Four other Australians competed on day one in the ‘grand final’ of the 2007 World Athletics Tour, with Craig Mottram (7:49.89) finishing fourth over 3000m, John Steffensen (46.16) fifth over the one lap and Donna MacFarlane (9:41.77) seventh in the 3000m steeplechase. Sally McLellan was dramatically disqualified in the 100m hurdles. 

For Jamieson, it was her first medal at the World Athletics Final, improving on last year’s result by one place.

Clocking 4:05.43, the 32 year-old defeated five World Championship finalists, including Ukrainian world bronze medallist Iryna Lishchynska, to secure her position on the podium.

Newly-crowned world champion, Bahrain’s Maryam Yusuf Jamal (4:01.23), dominated the race - holding the lead from the second lap.

In a tight sprint for the finish, world leader and world silver medallist Yelena Soboleva of Russia (4:05.35) held off a fast finishing Jamieson, who just pipped Namibian record holder Agnes Samaria (4:05.44) by the closest of margins.

Drama engulfed the women’s 100m hurdles and, unfortunately, Gold Coast sprint star Sally McLellan was part of it. The event, containing six Osaka finalists, was supposed to be one of the highlights of the two-day meet, however, it wasn’t to be.

When the field was called to the gun for the first time, it was believed that Jamaica’s Delloreen Ennis-London raised her hand to say she wasn’t settled - deeming a faulty start.

However, when the recall gun sounded again on the second start, it was found that the original verdict had on closer inspection been a false start. As a consequence, Lolo Jones (USA) and McLellan were removed from the line-up.

A third false start followed and that led to the disqualification of a third person, the in-form European champion Susanna Kallur - which effectively robbed the race.

Two-time world champion Michelle Perry’s dip on the line secured the win in 12.68, against a greatly-reduced field.

A later protest by McLellan and Jones regarding their disqualifications was rejected by the jury. It was a major disappointment for the 21 year-old, who was in Australian-record breaking form after a solid hit out in Europe over the last three weeks.

Breaking from the pack over the final turn, Kenyan Edwin Soi kicked to a decisive victory in the men’s 3000m. The race was a tactical one, with the entire field still in contention when the bell sounded, 6:55.21 into the race.

Craig Mottram and Briton Mo Farah headed the tightly-knit pack as they began the final lap, but the tempo increasing dramatically. Mottram, recovering from a hamstring tear, began to fade when Soi and compatriot Joseph Ebuya made their decisive moves.

While Soi bolted to the lead - and the eventual victory in 7:48.81 - Farah held his ground until Ebuya snuck by on the inside to finish second in 7:49.70, 0.19 seconds ahead of the Brit. Mottram, who seemingly faded out of contention with 200m to go, fought back to finish fourth in 7:49.89.

Commonwealth Games champion John Steffensen was unable to reproduce his sub-45 second times from Osaka, crossing the line fifth in the one-lap race and recording 46.16 in the men's 400m.

With reigning world and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner absent, the door was left open for United States compatriot and Osaka silver medallist LaShawn Merritt to power to victory, stopping the clock in 44.58.

Canada’s record holder Tyler Christopher out-dipped a fast finishing Angelo Taylor to claim second; 44.87 to 44.92.

Tasmania’s Donna MacFarlane made the trek to Germany, determined to make amends for her Osaka disappointment.

After suffering debilitating blisters on her foot in last month’s race, the under-prepared yet resolute mother of two posted 9:41.77 to place seventh in the 3000m steeplechase. The event taken out by Kenya’s Eunice Jepkorir in 9:35.03.

The action continues today in Stuttgart, with four Australians jostling for their share of the US $3 million total prize purse. Two-time world champion Jana Rawlinson will line up in the women’s 400m hurdles at 9:40pm AEST, Steve Hooker will be determined to reverse his recent form slump in the men’s pole vault scheduled to commence at 9:50pm AEST and Craig Mottram (5000m) and Donna MacFarlane (3000m) are set to back up again at 11:05pm and 12:00pm AEST.

Live results and audio can be found on the IAAF website – www.iaaf.org

With thanks to the IAAF