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Thomas on fire at ACT Interclub
AIS athlete Tristan Thomas set the ACT Interclub meet on fire on Tuesday night, setting a new Tasmanian state record in the men's 400m in a personal best time of 45.85.
The highlight of the night was saved almost for last as Thomas took out the event ahead of Kurt Mulcahy (46.57) in blistering fashion, eclipsing Simon Hollingsworth’s 1992 Tasmanian record of 45.99 to finish within B-qualifying standard.
“I’m ecstatic, I’ve wanted this for so long and I’ve been just dribbling around this mark for so long now and haven’t got the conditions I wanted and tonight, while it’s a wet track, the wind actually stilled up and it’s been awesome,” Thomas said.
“I’ve wanted that kind of race result for a couple of years but due to injury it just hasn’t happened, but it’s all come together tonight.
“I’m just happy, no matter what the event is, to be doing PB’s after so long, it’s awesome. I just want to make the relay team and be a part of things, I’ve been on the edges for so long that I kind of want to break through.”
On a night owned by emerging stars, Nigerian-born Anthony Alozie stepped out as the surprise packet of the meet, posting a blistering 10.16 to win the race ahead of Melbourne athlete Josh Ross in 10.38.
Alozie, who is based in Melbourne and eligible to compete for Australia at an international level, had the track abuzz with talk of an A-qualifying time but a 2.7m wind reading dashed all hope of that result.
Ross said he was not surprised by Alozie’s race.
“He’s always been quick off the mark, usually I run him down,” Ross said.
“He’s in okay form so it’s great for the sport and great for the season. We probably need a lot more depth in this country and having him here has been good.”
In her first competitive hit-out of the domestic season Sally McLellan had the night off to a flying start with victory in the 100m in 11.48, edging out Jody Henry (11.79) and Jump Start to London athlete Laura Whaler (11.82) to take out the event. In what was a promising start to her 2009 campaign, Whaler equalled her personal best time in taking out third place.
While it was a far cry from Beijing, the ACT Interclub event was met with just as much expectation from McLellan, who after three years at the top of her sport said the pressure was relentless.
“I’ve still got a lot of pressure here, I’ve been undefeated now for three years straight, no one’s beaten me in Australia,” she said.
“There’s a bit of pressure there every time I race against these girls so I just treat every race as though it’s a big one, I still get the adrenaline, still get pumped up so it’s like anything else really.”
McLellan and Ross backed up their 100m efforts with identical placings in the 200m event, McLellan taking out the women’s race in 23.65 and Ross finishing second to Keith Sheehy (21.42) in 21.49.
Despite dominating the event from start to finish from the inside lane, McLellan said she was disappointed with her run after posting a new personal best time in Queensland last Friday night.
“I feel pretty fit at the moment, I’m disappointed about that 200m time. I ran faster last Friday in 23.32,” she said.
“It’s not the best conditions today so it’s a good indication of where I’m at at the moment.”
“The plan this season is just to stay in shape and win back my national title in the 100m and the hurdles and then head over to Europe and compete over there, and with the World Champs it’s obviously to make the final and then anything can happen.”
Continuing her recent good form, Jump Start to London athlete Angeline Blackburn came home strong to win the women’s 400m in 54.12 ahead of Lyndsay Pekin (54.55) and Pirrenee Steinert (55.06).
In other results, Target 2012 campaigner Jacinta Boyd won the women’s long jump in 6.25, with Scott Crowe taking out the men’s event with a jump of 7.41.
Full results are available here
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