18.08.2009

Riseley misses out on final

On a quieter day at the Olympic stadium in Berlin three Australian Flame athletes took to the world stage on the third night of competition.

Jeff Riseley ran a strong race in a scintillating semi-final of the 1500m in Berlin tonight. Taking on race favourite Asbel Kipruto Kiprop in heat two, the young Victorian finished in 10th place in a time of 3:38.00, the fastest time ever run at a world championships by an Australian. Riseley survived an interference protest on Saturday to advance to this round and was intent on making it count. He went with the experienced field early and held his place until the last lap. As Kiprop put the heat on, Riseley began to fade but he had left everything he had on the track.

Making a move at 450m to get onto the back of the lead pack he put himself in the position where he could close in the last lap and secure one of the top five spots.

“I felt that I was capable of that tonight but I didn't have the gear that those guys had. I am pretty disappointed,” he said.

Riseley, who ran 3.35.71 to win just his second national title in March, has since gone from strength to strength this European season. Smashing his personal best at the Golden Gala in Rome just three weeks ago, he ran 3.32.93 to move to second on the Australian all-time list behind Simon Doyle. It was his third personal best over the metric mile this year and all signs indicate that Doyle’s 18-year reign may fall to the 22-year-old in the not too distant future.

Riseley was disappointed with the outcome but happy with his efforts and is looking for big things in the future.

“Today I was really hungry and determined, I wanted a place in the final,” he said.

“I thought it was my chance to make an impact. The semi is still a good achievement and means I’ve taken a step in the right direction. At least I’ve got the monkey off my back as far as getting out of the heats. It’s a massive confidence boost for me.”

The Australian Flame athlete is already looking forward to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next year, though he has to finish off his season and put some work in to make sure he continues developing.

“I’ve made some really major steps this year. I’ve put together consistent training, run some fast times and I’ve come out here and competed well.

"The Commonwealth Games is a big goal, I’ll be bigger and stronger and I think I’ve got the tools to match it with those guys. I’ve just got to keep the body in one piece.”

Fellow Victorians Collis Birmingham and David McNeill contested the men's 10,000m final. In a 30-man field that quickly dispersed to almost single file, Bekele, Tadese, Masai and Kogo led out early with Birmingham sitting mid-field and McNeil not too far behind him. At 5000m the leaders went through in 13.40.36 with Birmingham 13 seconds behind in 20th position and McNeill in 26th place. After 8000m Birmingham stepped off the track leaving his compatriot to fly the Flame flag and an exhausted McNeill crossed the line in24th place in a time of 29:18.59.

The title was won by legend Kenenisa Bekele in a championship record time of 26:46.31, his fourth title in the event.

After McNeill’s great effort he had the staggers on the track and has been treated for hyperthermia and dehydration but is in a stable condition and will return to the team hotel later this evening.

Birmingham will return to the Olympic stadium for the 5,000m final on the last night of the championships. On the championship stage he is more experienced in the 5,000m, placing 10th in his heat in Beijing despite being ranked higher in the 10,000m. Birmingham struggled through the race and was gutted that he had to pull out.

“It was the first race I've ever pulled out of in my life - it's not something I like doing,” he said.

"I actually thought about pulling out earlier but I really didn't want to do it." 

Collis will look forward to the chance to improve when he races again next Saturday night. “I can't explain that (the run in the 10,000m) but I know I'm in good shape, everything I've done this season points to that. I'll start again on Thursday, it's a new race," he said.

Tomorrow morning discus thrower Benn Harradine and high jumper Petrina Price will make their world championship debut.

In the 400m heats Joel Milburn will take on the fourth placegetter from Osaka, Beijing and Melbourne, Bahamian Chris Brown, in heat four, John Steffensen will race Olympic champion La Shawn Merret and Sydney silver medallist Alvin Harrison, now representing the Dominican Republic, and Sean Wroe will have Olympic finalist Martyn Rooney of Great Britain to contend with in heat seven.

The evening session will see Olympic silver medallist Sally McLellan race in heat three of the 100m hurdles against two-time world champion Michelle Perry.

Click here to see videos from the mixed zone today.