01.07.2009

8.15m for Watt on European debut

Competing in his first-ever competition on the European circuit, Queensland long jump sensation Mitchell Watt has landed 8.15m (0.5) at the Lille Metropole meeting in France on Tuesday night.

Finishing second behind Frenchman Sdiri Salim (8.17m), the 21-year-old produced the second longest jump of his career, just two centimetres short of his 8.17m personal best set on the Gold Coast in March.

Once again demonstrating his ability to jump at a consistency high level, it was his eighth 8-metre plus jump of the season.

Watt will next compete at the Madrid Grand Prix on Saturday night, where a much anticipated battle looms between the Queenslander and fellow in-from Australian long jumper Fabrice Lapierre.

On the track, 400m runner Sean Wroe finished third in his first race of his European campaign, clocking 45.76 behind Gary Kikaya (45.30) and Leslie Djhone (45.47). 

Wroe will next take to the track against a strong field at the Bislett Games in Oslo on Friday night.

In the 1500m, Jeremy Roff finished sixth in a closely contested race in a time of 3:37.35, the second fastest run of his career behind his breakthrough performance of 3:34.39 at the Berlin Golden League. The race was taken out by Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad of France in 3:36.22.

Despite fouling on four occasions, Victorian Scott Martin managed to place fourth in the shot put with his best effort of 19.00m.

Queenslander Alana Boyd recorded a no height in the pole vault after three unsuccessful attempts at 4.20m, and Josh Robinson placed ninth in the javelin with a best throw of 73.62m.

And on Wednesday night, West Australian pole vaulter Paul Burgess cleared 5.50m to place seventh at the Moscow Open behind Ukranian victor Maksym Mazuryk who jumped 5.70m.

The 29-year-old cleared 5.40m and 5.50m before having three unsuccessful attempts at 5.60m.

In Australian athletics action still to come this week:

On Thursday, a number of members of the World University Games team will compete in Valenje, Slovenia.

On Friday, the IAAF Golden League returns, the second leg to be staged in Oslo, Norway. The Bislett Games will feature Tamsyn Lewis (400m), Sean Wroe (400m), Collis Birmingham (5000m), Jeff Riseley (mile) and Ryan Gregson (1500m).

And on Saturday, Fabrice Lapierre (long jump), Mitchell Watt (long jump), Alana Boyd (pole vault) and Madeleine Pape (800m) will compete at the Madrid Grand Prix in Spain.