Home » News and Media » News » 2009 » February » Triple hurdles treat for Thomas and Merlino
11.02.2009
The imminent arrival of the quality hurdles trio will provide an invaluable learning opportunity for young guns Tristan Thomas (Tasmania/AIS - 400m hurdles) and Justin Merlino (NSW - 110m hurdles), to compete against the world’s best on their own home soil as they continue their promising progression towards the London Olympics.
They enhance an already impressive list of international athletes set to compete in Australia, including former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell, Beijing pole vault silver medallist Yevgeniy Lukyanenko, American sprint star Xavier Carter and our own Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker and 100m hurdles silver medallist Sally McLellan.
Hailing from the United States and South Africa respectively, Bershawn Jackson and LJ Van Zyl will compete in the 400m hurdles at the Sydney Track Classic on Saturday, 28 February and at the World Athletics Tour – Melbourne on Thursday, 5 March.
For 22-year-old Tasmanian Tristan Thomas, competing against the world-class pair this summer will provide valuable competition, as he chases the much sought after ‘A’ qualifying time of 49.25 for the Berlin world championships.
The AIS-based athlete has been one of the standout performers of the Australian season to date. After taking out the 800m at the Zatopek in December, he broke the Tasmanian 400m flat record in Canberra a month later before clocking a new best time over the 400m hurdles in Hobart two weeks ago - three personal bests over three events, in less than seven weeks.
A member of the Target 2012 development squad, the reigning national champion has his eyes on London, and can only benefit from the pair’s Australian visit.
“As a developing athlete it’s great to be around people that are faster than you are. It gives you an opportunity to get better and achieve,” said Thomas, who was busy preparing a coconut chicken risotto in a cooking class at the Australian Institute of Sport.
“By running against the world champion and Commonwealth Games champion, it will be great to have the added hype and nerves. Jackson has the potential to do anything and LJ is always in shape and finishes really hard.
“I’m hoping the A-qualifier for Berlin will come in the next few weeks so it will relieve a bit of pressure and give me some added confidence ahead of Sydney and Melbourne. “
Jackson and Van Zyl have met 22 times over their career, the American having the upperhand on 14 occasions. Hardly anything separated the pair last year, Jackson producing the third fastest time in the world with 48.02, whilst Van Zyl sat in fourth position on the list with 48.22.
Jackson has been one of the most consistent performers on the circuit, ranked in the world’s top ten by Track & Field News, the authoritive US athletics magazine, every year since 2003.
Motivated by his failure to make the 2004 Olympic team, Jackson dominated the event thoughout the 2005 season, recording his career best time of 47.30 and securing the biggest victory of his career – the world championships.
In Beijing last year, Jackson was part of the United States only clean sweep in athletics, the 25-year-old pocketing his first Olympic medal – a bronze. Van Zyl finished a close fifth in the final.
American athlete David Oliver capped off a highly successful 2008 campaign by winning the bronze medal in the 110m hurdles at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
The 26-year-old completed a clean sweep of the USA indoor and outdoor titles in 2008, edging Terrence Trammell by .05 seconds to win the Olympic Trials and give the Denver native his first Olympic berth.
The two-time NCAA All American ran the second-fastest time in the world last year – 12.95 in Doha in May – the tenth fastest time in history.
He will line up on the starting blocks alongside two-time Australian champion Justin Merlino.
After missing out on the Australian team by a whisker for the 2007 world championships and 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 23-year-old Sydneysider is desperately trying to post an A-qualifier for the 2009 world championships. Chasing a time of 13.55 seconds, Oliver’s presence may just push him over the line.
Both the Sydney Track Classic and World Athletics Tour Melbourne will be broadcast around Australia on Network Ten. Any Australian athlete who breaks an Australian record will receive a $10,000 bonus as part of the $310,000 prize money on offer this summer.
Sydney Track Classic – Sydney Olympic Park – Saturday 28 February 2009
World Athletics Tour - Olympic Park Melbourne – Thursday 5 March 2009
News
Triple hurdles treat for Thomas and Merlino
World champion Bershawn Jackson, Commonwealth Games champion LJ Van Zyl and Olympic bronze medallist David Oliver are the latest names to join a stellar cast of international stars set to compete in Sydney and Melbourne this summer.The imminent arrival of the quality hurdles trio will provide an invaluable learning opportunity for young guns Tristan Thomas (Tasmania/AIS - 400m hurdles) and Justin Merlino (NSW - 110m hurdles), to compete against the world’s best on their own home soil as they continue their promising progression towards the London Olympics.
They enhance an already impressive list of international athletes set to compete in Australia, including former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell, Beijing pole vault silver medallist Yevgeniy Lukyanenko, American sprint star Xavier Carter and our own Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker and 100m hurdles silver medallist Sally McLellan.
Hailing from the United States and South Africa respectively, Bershawn Jackson and LJ Van Zyl will compete in the 400m hurdles at the Sydney Track Classic on Saturday, 28 February and at the World Athletics Tour – Melbourne on Thursday, 5 March.
For 22-year-old Tasmanian Tristan Thomas, competing against the world-class pair this summer will provide valuable competition, as he chases the much sought after ‘A’ qualifying time of 49.25 for the Berlin world championships.
The AIS-based athlete has been one of the standout performers of the Australian season to date. After taking out the 800m at the Zatopek in December, he broke the Tasmanian 400m flat record in Canberra a month later before clocking a new best time over the 400m hurdles in Hobart two weeks ago - three personal bests over three events, in less than seven weeks.
A member of the Target 2012 development squad, the reigning national champion has his eyes on London, and can only benefit from the pair’s Australian visit.
“As a developing athlete it’s great to be around people that are faster than you are. It gives you an opportunity to get better and achieve,” said Thomas, who was busy preparing a coconut chicken risotto in a cooking class at the Australian Institute of Sport.
“By running against the world champion and Commonwealth Games champion, it will be great to have the added hype and nerves. Jackson has the potential to do anything and LJ is always in shape and finishes really hard.
“I’m hoping the A-qualifier for Berlin will come in the next few weeks so it will relieve a bit of pressure and give me some added confidence ahead of Sydney and Melbourne. “
Jackson and Van Zyl have met 22 times over their career, the American having the upperhand on 14 occasions. Hardly anything separated the pair last year, Jackson producing the third fastest time in the world with 48.02, whilst Van Zyl sat in fourth position on the list with 48.22.
Jackson has been one of the most consistent performers on the circuit, ranked in the world’s top ten by Track & Field News, the authoritive US athletics magazine, every year since 2003.
Motivated by his failure to make the 2004 Olympic team, Jackson dominated the event thoughout the 2005 season, recording his career best time of 47.30 and securing the biggest victory of his career – the world championships.
In Beijing last year, Jackson was part of the United States only clean sweep in athletics, the 25-year-old pocketing his first Olympic medal – a bronze. Van Zyl finished a close fifth in the final.
American athlete David Oliver capped off a highly successful 2008 campaign by winning the bronze medal in the 110m hurdles at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
The 26-year-old completed a clean sweep of the USA indoor and outdoor titles in 2008, edging Terrence Trammell by .05 seconds to win the Olympic Trials and give the Denver native his first Olympic berth.
The two-time NCAA All American ran the second-fastest time in the world last year – 12.95 in Doha in May – the tenth fastest time in history.
He will line up on the starting blocks alongside two-time Australian champion Justin Merlino.
After missing out on the Australian team by a whisker for the 2007 world championships and 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 23-year-old Sydneysider is desperately trying to post an A-qualifier for the 2009 world championships. Chasing a time of 13.55 seconds, Oliver’s presence may just push him over the line.
Both the Sydney Track Classic and World Athletics Tour Melbourne will be broadcast around Australia on Network Ten. Any Australian athlete who breaks an Australian record will receive a $10,000 bonus as part of the $310,000 prize money on offer this summer.
Sydney Track Classic – Sydney Olympic Park – Saturday 28 February 2009
World Athletics Tour - Olympic Park Melbourne – Thursday 5 March 2009
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