Lewis and Johnson post fastest since 2003

Blustery conditions greeted the Australian contingent in Zaragoza, Spain overnight, however, it didn’t stop experienced campaigners Tamsyn Lewis (800m) and Patrick Johnson (100m) from producing their fastest times since 2003.

Elsewhere, 3000m steeplechase athlete Youcef Abdi set a new personal best time of 8:18.34 in Heusden, Belgium and world no. 1 pole vaulter Steve Hooker cleared 5.81m to take victory in Jockgrim, Germany.

Seven Australians competed in Zaragoza, led by 11-time national champion Tamsyn Lewis who continued her outstanding form, recording 1:59.37 to finish third in the 800 metres. The 29-year-old’s effort was her fifth-fastest time ever and only 0.16 seconds off her personal best (1:59.21) set in Canberra in 2000.

It was the fourth time Lewis had gone under the two-minute barrier this European season, a record which will give her confidence leading into the Osaka World Championships in 27 days' time.

Maria Mutola (1:58.21), the Sydney Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion from Mozambique took the 800m honours, with Moroccan Hasna Benhassi (1:59.31), the Athens Olympic silver medallist, in second place.

Patrick Johnson, the Australian 100m record holder, posted a blistering 10.17 (+1.3) in his 100m semi-final, the 34-year-old’s fastest time since 2003. He went on to place eighth in the final, registering a tailwind assisted 10.12 (+3.7).

Jamaica’s Steve Mullings stole the show in the blue-riband event, clocking 9.91 seconds (+3.7) to take victory.

Five-time national 100m champion Matt Shirvington (10.34) placed fifth behind Johnson in the fast semi-final and did not progress through to the next round.

In his fifth European appearance in two weeks, Scott Martin continued his impressive comeback from foot surgery, launching the shot put 19.42 metres to finish third behind Poland’s Tomasz Majewski (20.71m) and America’s Christian Cantwell (20.16m).

Fighting against the gusty winds which swirled around the track, reigning national 400m champion Sean Wroe stopped the clock in 46.30 over the one-lap race, only to be pipped by Derrick Brew from the USA in 45.93.

Queensland long jumper Chris Noffke landed 7.96m (+5.5) in the sand on his first attempt to place fifth and reigning national 1500m champion Lisa Corrigan from the ACT concluded her European campaign with a 4:11.40 to cross the line in seventh place.

Across in Heusden, Belgium, Youcef Abdi knocked 0.37 seconds off his 3000m steeplechase personal best set only two weeks ago in Metz, France, to place 10th in 8:18.34.

Although he is drawing closer, Abdi remains in second position on the Australian all-time list behind two-time Olympian Shaun Creighton (8:16.22).

Reigning national champion Benn Harradine launched the discus 60.11 metres to place sixth at the same meet.

World no. 1 pole vaulter Steve Hooker, who has finished on the podium in all four IAAF World Athletics Tour meets this month, continued his sensational form on Friday night clearing 5.81m to claim victory in Jockgrim, Germany.

Germany’s Tim Lobinger picked up second place (5.71m) while Tommy Skipper from the US was third with a leap of 5.51m.

1:59.21   1         Canberra - 15 Jan 2000
1:59.29   1         National Championships Sydney - 27 Feb 2000
1:59.33   4s1     Olympic Games Sydney - 23 Sep 2000
1:59.35   4         Lausanne - 1 July 2003
1:59.37   3        Zaragoza  - 28 July 2007
1:59.41             Olympic Trials Sydney - 19 Aug 2000
1:59.42   1         Melbourne - 2 Mar 2000
1:59.45   5        Athens - 2 Jul 2007
1:59.56   2         Brisbane - 8 Sep 2000
1:59.70   1         Naimette-Xhovémont - 25 July 2007
1:59.73   5         Commonwealth Games  Manchester - 29 July 2002