29.08.2006

Mottram to defend IAAF World Cup title in Athens

Craig Mottram will defend his 3000m title at the IAAF World Cup in Athens next month, following the announcement of the Oceania team today.

Australia will be represented by 35 athletes, including Commonwealth Games gold medallists Bronwyn Thompson (long jump), Brooke Billet (hammer), Kym Howe and Steve Hooker (pole vault), Scott Martin (shot put and discus) and Stuart Rendell (hammer). Relay gold medalists in the 4x400m from Melbourne - Rosemary Hayward, Caitlin Willis and Clinton Hill will also compete.

The team announced today by the Oceania Athletics Association still has a number of additions to be made, with the final spots in some individual events to be confirmed following competition in Europe over the next 10 days.

The IAAF World Cup was last held in Madrid, Spain in 2002, where Mottram announced himself as a star with a runaway win in the 3000m in a new championship record. Justin Anlezark finished 2nd in the shot put and Jana Pittman 3rd in the 400m hurdles; both were unavailable for selection for this year�s event. New Zealand�s Beatrice Faumuina won the discus, however she was beaten by Australia�s rising star and recent world junior champion Dani Samuels at the Commonwealth Games denying the former world champion the opportunity to defend her title.

The Mottram is one of three Australian�s who have recorded World Cup wins with Lyn Jacenko (long jump � 1977) and Joanna Stone (javelin � 1998), along with Faumuina recording victories for Oceania since the first edition in Dusseldorf, Germany in 1977.

The Oceania Athletics Association represents 19 national federations in the region and co-ordinates the IAAF Regional Development Centre, firstly in Adelaide and now in Brisbane and the High Performance Training Centre in Auckland, New Zealand, in developing athletics in the region.

The IAAF World Cup is the premier team�s competition in world athletics. The competition features straight finals in all events except the multi-events and walks, with athletes representing continental teams from Asia, Africa, Americas (Canada, Central and South America and the Caribbean) Europe and Oceania. In addition, the USA and the top two teams from the European Cup (France and Russia for the men and Russia and Poland for women) joining host nation Greece in the nine team competition. Athletes compete for points based on placings to determine the best teams in international athletics

To add further interest, athletes will compete for a significant prize pool � with US$30,000 delivered to the winners of each individual event.

The 10th IAAF World Cup will be held in Athens, Greece, on the weekend of 16-17 September 2006.

IAAF World Cup - Oceania Team
Updated 29 August 2006

Men
100m to be confirmed
200m to be confirmed
400m to be confirmed
800m Jason Stewart (NZL)
1500m Nick Willis (NZL)
3000m Craig Mottram (AUS)
5000m Adrian Blincoe (NZL)
110m Hurdles James Mortimer (NZL)
400m Hurdles Tristan Thomas (AUS)
3000m Steeplechase Youcef Abdi (AUS)
100/200/4x100m Squad Patrick Johnson (AUS), Daniel Batman (AUS), Ambrose Ezenwa (AUS), Aaron Rouge Serret (AUS)
4x400m Squad Clinton Hill (AUS), Daniel Batman (AUS), Sean Wroe (AUS), Tristan Thomas (AUS), Dylan Grant (AUS)
Shot Scott Martin (AUS)
Discus Scott Martin (AUS)
Hammer Stuart Rendell (AUS)
Javelin Stuart Farquhar (NZL)
High Jump Liam Zamel-Paez (AUS)
Pole Vault Steven Hooker (AUS)
Long Jump Fabrice Lapierre (AUS)
Triple Jump Alwyn Jones (AUS)
Reserves Chris Gaviglio (AUS), Mowen Boino (PNG), Jordan Vandermade (NZL)

Women
100m Sally McLellan (AUS)
200m Melanie Kleeberg (AUS)
400m Rosemary Hayward (AUS)
800m Libby Allen (AUS)
1500m Sarah Jamieson (AUS)
3000m Eloise Wellings (AUS)
5000m Kimberley Smith (NZL)
100m Hurdles Sally McLellan (AUS)
400m Hurdles Lauren Boden (AUS)
3000m Steeplechase Victoria Mitchell (AUS)
100m/200m/4x100m Squad Fiona Cullen (AUS), Melanie Kleeberg (AUS), Preya Carey (AUS), Bronwyn Thompson (AUS), Sally McLellan (AUS)
4x400m Squad Rosemary Hayward (AUS), Caitlin Willis (AUS), Rebecca Irwin (AUS), Angeline Blackburn (AUS)
Shot Valerie Vili (NZL)
Discus Dani Samuels (AUS)
Hammer Brooke Krueger-Billet (AUS)
Javelin Kim Mickle (AUS)
High Jump Angela McKee (NZL)
Pole Vault Kym Howe (AUS)
Long Jump Bronwyn Thompson (AUS)
Triple Jump Linda Allen (AUS)
Reserves Kylie Wheeler (AUS), Ana Po�hila (TGA)

For further information or to arrange athlete interviews, please contact:
David Culbert - Athletics Australia Media - 0417 272 641
Or
Yvonne Mullins - Executive Director, OAA - +61 7 47 251022