10.05.2008

Riseley's rampaging victory in Osaka

Jeff Riseley’s victory and B-qualifying performance in the 800m, was the highlight of an Australian athlete-loaded Osaka Grand Prix overnight.

In cool, windy and wet conditions, the Victorian, who is still chasing an Olympic berth, posted his second Olympic B-qualifier (1.46.53) of the period, finishing well clear of the USA’s Ryan Brown (1.48.07) and home-town hero Masato Yokota.

Returning from an achilles injury and also chasing down a ticket to Beijing, ACT’s Lisa Corrigan (4:14.24) finished second behind Japan’s Yuriko Kobayashi (4:13.96) in a relatively slow women’s 1500m.

The news wasn’t so good for our men’s 4 x 100m relay team who were endeavouring to consolidate their place as one of the top 16 nations in the world in order to qualify for the Olympics.  

Adam Basil took off strongly, passing to Aaron Rouge-Serret who then handed the baton over to Isaac Ntiamoah. However the third change didn’t go according to plan, Josh Ross taking off early with Ntiamoah unable to catch the five-time national sprint champion in time – a DNF placed against Australia’s name on the scoreboard.

Currently sitting in eleventh position, the team must play the waiting game; their Olympic dreams resting in the hands of selectors and the other nations biting at Australia’s heels hoping to knock the team out of the top 16 and Olympic contention. 

In other results, Olympic 400m nominee Sean Wroe placed fourth in a solid 46.70, Olympic hopeful Robbie Crowther landed 7.64m (+3.4) in the sand to finish in second place in the men’s long jump, whilst Patrick Johnson clocked 21.24 (+0.1) in the men’s 200m.

Full IAAF event report can be found at http://www.iaaf.org/GP08/news/kind=100/newsid=44770.html

AUSTRALIAN RESULTS

Men’s 100m A (+0.8)

3^rd   Patrick Johnson 10.55

5^th   Otis Gowa 10.68

Men’s 100m B (-1.4)
1^st   Josh Ross  10.41
5^th   Aaron Rouge-Serret  10.62

Men’s 200m (+0.1)
4^th   Patrick Johnson   21.24
5^th   Daniel Batman 21.30
7^th   Matt Davies   21.85 

Men’s 400m
4^th   Sean Wroe   46.70

Men’s 800m
1st   Jeff Riseley 1:46.53 (B Qualifier)

Men’s 400m Hurdles
3^rd   Brendan Cole    50.34

Men’s 4 x 100m Relay
DNF   Australia

Men’s High Jump
5^th    Cal Pearce 2.05m

Men’s Long Jump
2^nd    Robbie Crowther 7.64m (3.4)
5^th    Tim Parravicini 7.41m (2.2)
6^th     John Thornell 5.68m (0.8)

Women’s 1500m
2nd    Lisa Corrigan 4:14.24
5th     Veronique Molan 4:19.50 

Women’s 400m Hurdles
3^rd   Lauren Boden    57.36
 
Women’s Long Jump
4^th   Kerrie Taurima   6.05m (0.8)

Women’s 4 x 100m Relay
4^th   Australia   45.33