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 Donna MacFarlane 

Donna MacFarlane
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In 2008, Donna won the Melbourne Athletics Grand Prix in an A-qualifying time of 9.29.93, well ahead of international Zhenzhu Li 9.56.73. At the national championships in March, Donna made it two in a row and achieved automatic nomination for her Olympic debut. At the 2008 IAAF Oslo Golden League, Donna demolished the Australian record by six seconds, running 9.18.35.

On debut at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, Donna went into her race hotly rated and on paper, the third fastest in the heat. The race was won in a time three seconds slower than her personal best, though it proved too hot to handle as she battled on to place ninth in 9:32.05.

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Date of Birth:
18.06.1977
Discipline:
Steeplechase
Occupation:
Athlete
Height:
176cm
Weight:
57kg
State:
TAS
Coach:
Peter Fortune
Previous Coaches:
Max Cherry OAM, Di Huxley (nee Barnes)
Scholarship:
TIS
Club:
Sandy Bay Harriers
Place of Birth/Residence:
Melbourne, VIC / Hobart, TAS
Marital Status
Married to Marty MacFarlane with two children (Marcella b. 2002 and Gabriel b. 2004)
Flame Team Number
40
Joined Flame Team On
N/A
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 Further Information 

Competition Stats

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
800 metres: 1997 (U20) - 1st
1500 metres: 1997 (U20) - 1st
3000 metres: 1997 (U20) - 4th (2nd Australian)
3000m steeple: 2000 - 5th (3rd Australian), 2006 - 2nd, 2006 - 1st, 2007 - 1st, 2008 - 1st, 2009 - 1st
Cross country: 1996 - (U20) 4km 1st, 2006 - 2nd

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Commonwealth Games: 2006 – 3000m steeple 3rd (9.25.05)
World Cross Country Championships: 2006 – 4km 29th
World Championships: 2007 - 3000m steeple DNF heat (inj.)
Olympic Games: 2008 – 3000m steeple 9th heat (9:32.05), 2009 - 300m steeple 12th heat (9:52.46)

ANNUAL PROGRESSION:
1500 metres:
1998 4:20.47
2006 4:15.83
2007 4:12.44/4.10.37m (mix)
2008 4:17.63
2009 4:19.94

3000 metres:
2006 8:50.65
2007 9:03.71
2008 9:02.14

3000m steeplechase:
2000 10:31.10 (mix)
2005 9:51.60
2006 9:25.05
2007 9:26.63
2008 9:18.35
2009 9:57.14

EVENTS/PERSONAL BESTS:
3000m steeplechase: 9.18.35 - Oslo, 6/06/08
1500 metres: 4.12.22 - Osaka (JPN), 5/05/07 [4.10.37 in unsanctioned mixed race]
One mile: 4.33.52 - Melbourne, 2/03/07
3000 metres: 8.50.65 - Melbourne, 9/03/06
5000 metres: 15.46.43 - Hobart, 18/03/07

RECORDS
Oceania/National record - 3000m steeple: 9.18.35 - Oslo, 6/6/2008

Interesting Facts

Donna combines her athletic efforts with being a mother of two young children in Hobart.

In 2008, Donna won the TIS Female Athlete of the Year Award. She is arguably the most recognisable female athlete in Tasmania and second sportsperson overall to Ricky Ponting.