10.08.2009

Countdown to the world championships

After spending a week in Cologne fine-tuning its preparations, the Australian athletics team arrives in Berlin tomorrow afternoon ready to take on the world’s best at the 12th edition of the IAAF world championships, which commence this Saturday.
 
To be staged from August 15 – 23, more than 2500 athletes from 202 nations will congregate in Germany’s capital to contest the biggest event on the 2009 international sporting calendar.
 
The famous Berlin Olympic stadium will play host to nine days of spectacular athletics action as the likes of Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay and Yelena Isinbayeva vie for the coveted title of world champion.
 
A mix of youth and experience, the 47-strong Australian team includes 27 athletes who will be making their world championships debut in 2009. The large team is part of a four-year strategy to introduce as many high performance athletes to the pressures of world-class athletics ahead of the London Olympics in 2012.
 
The Australian team will be spearheaded by Beijing Olympic champion Steve Hooker, 100m hurdles silver medallist Sally McLellan and dual race walking medallist Jared Tallent.
 
McLellan will be this year’s fastest 100m hurdler to line up at the world championships in Berlin, the 22-year-old breaking her own Australian 100m hurdles record in Monaco two weeks ago, stopping the clock in 12.50 seconds (+0.7).
 
McLellan has been in sensational form throughout the European season, posting five victories from seven starts against quality world-class opposition, including Olympic champion Dawn Harper of the USA.
 
Hooker has only been defeated twice since the Beijing Olympics and has rightly earned his place as one of the favourites heading into Berlin. But the 27-year-old will have a number of talented vaulters on his tail keen to knock the Olympic champion off his perch, including young Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie who has already jumped 6.01m this year, and reigning world champion Brad Walker from the USA.
 
Australian long jump sensations Mitchell Watt and Fabrice Lapierre have elevated themselves into medal contention following outstanding seasons that have seen them reach No. 2 and No. 3 on the Australian all-time list. As witnessed this European season, the pair are not afraid to mix it with the big guns including reigning Olympic champion Irving Saladino and African record holder Godfrey Mokoena.
 
The great depth of Australian race walking will also be on display in Berlin with Tallent and Luke Adams leading the charge in the 20km and 50km walks. Discus thrower Dani Samuels has been sailing under the radar and has already caused major upsets this year defeating the reigning world and Olympic champions, while the men’s 4 x 400m relay team led by John Steffensen, Sean Wroe and Joel Milburn could also snatch a medal.
 
Fans of athletics will be treated to more than 40 hours of free-to-air coverage in Australia on SBS ONE and SBS TWO. Download the full broadcast schedule here.