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World Champion Samuels to make domestic return at Zatopek:10
Australian discus world champion Dani Samuels (NSW) will make her return to domestic competition for the first time since claiming gold in Berlin, taking to the throwers circle at Olympic Park for the Zatopek:10 next Thursday (10th December 2009).
After a stellar 2009 international season, that also included a World University Games gold medal, Samuels will be looking to jump start her 2010 campaign, and her bid to add a Commonwealth Games crown to her impressive list of achievements.
21 year-old Samuels inscribed her name in Australian sporting history, becoming the first Australian thrower to claim either a world championship or Olympic Games gold medal, and also the youngest female to ever win a world discus crown.
Samuels greatest challenge at Zatopek:10 will come from emerging Victorian throwers Kim Mulhall and Samoan Margaret Satupai. Both women have placed fourth in the discus at the World Youth Championships – Mulhall (2007) and Satupai (2009).
Samuels claimed her first major international title at the 2005 World Youth Championships, taking gold in the discus.
Samuels will join a cast of Australia’s finest athletes in a talent laden track and field program, culminating in the feature women’s and men’s 10,000 metre events. Both 10,000 metre races will double as the national championship and Commonwealth Games selection trial for the event.
In the men’s race, Berlin world championship representative David McNeill (VIC) will look to defend his 2008 Zatopek:10 crown, with in-form Australian record holder Collis Birmingham (VIC) to lead a list of likely challengers including past and current national representatives Martin Dent (ACT), Mark Tucker (VIC), Michael Shelley (QLD) and Ben St. Lawrence (NSW).
Meanwhile in the women’s event, Nikki Chapple (VIC) will aim to continue the form that took her to victory at the Great Australian Run on Sunday, with defending Zatopek:10 champion Lara Tamsett (NSW), Berlin world championship marathoner Lisa Weightman (VIC), former world cross country champion Benita Willis (VIC), and 2008 City-2-Surf winner Rebecca Lowe (NSW) all likely to lead the chase.
Beijing Olympic silver medallist Sally McLellan (QLD) will also be in attendance at Zatopek:10, in her role as event ambassador for ‘Victoria’s Fastest Kid’ – the search for Victoria’s next sprint star. The semi-finals and finals of ‘Victoria’s Fastest Kid’ will comprise part of the elite program of Zatopek:10, with the champion boy and girl receiving a 12-month adidas sponsorship, valued at over $1000 each.
Also in action at Zatopek:10 is 2008 world indoor champion Tamsyn Lewis (VIC – 400m hurdles), 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Scott Martin (VIC – shot put and discus), Berlin world championship representatives Jeremy Roff (NSW - 1500m), Ryan Gregson (NSW – U20 3000m), Youcef Abdi (NSW - 3000m steeplechase) and Alwyn Jones (VIC – triple jump), and Beijing Olympian Lachlan Renshaw (NSW – 1500m).
Tickets to Zatopek:10 can be purchased through Athletics Victoria (www.athsvic.org.au or (03) 9428 8195).
Adults - $10 adults and Children - $5.
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