25.07.2009

Strong run home for Lewis in London

With just three weeks to go until the world championships in Berlin, several Australians are in action at the Aviva London Grand Prix uniquely spread over two days at the Crystal Palace track in the British capital.

In windy conditions on Friday night, Tamsyn Lewis lined up against a strong field in the women's 400m that included 2007 world championships silver medallist Nicola Sanders from United Kingdom and 50.39s performer Monica Hargrove of the USA.

Lewis, who earlier in the week informed selectors of her decision to focus on the 400m hurdles at the world championships in Berlin, was using the hit-out over the flat 400m to finalise her fitness.

“I need some 400m races to get that lactic tolerance,”' she said.

Whilst Lewis does not possess the raw speed of her rivals over 400m, she does have excellent endurance, and today it showed.

“I didn't run great there but my finish was awesome,” said Lewis, understating her performance.

In the run to the line, Lewis passed two of her rivals to record 52.47s for sixth place.

One of the scalps she took was Aliann Pompey from Guyana who recently set a national record of 50.90s in Athens. Lewis was not far away from other big names - American Dee Dee Trotter (52.08s) and Christine Amertil (52.20s) of the Bahamas -to suggest that given better conditions, faster times are expected.

“I have been working on a relaxation thing because I think that's important in the hurdles. We are trying a few things,” said the five-time Australian 400m champion.

“I am really cautious this year of peaking at the right time. Sometimes previously I have peaked a bit early but (coach) Justin has it worked out this time.”

Thinking ahead to her international representative debut over 400m hurdles in Berlin, Lewis has quiet confidence in her ability for the new event.

“It's coming along. I’m not nervous about it.”

Nicola Sanders from United Kingdom continued her return from injury by winning the race in 51.54s with Shana Cox (USA) in second in 51.56s. 

In recent months, Jeff Riseley has been rewriting Australian all-time lists with his fast times over 1500m and the mile in Berlin, Oslo and Rome.

In London he was hoping to use the 800m to hone his racing skills as he prepares for the 1500m at the world championships in Berlin. 

Despite lining up against much faster athletes including 2007 world championships silver medallist Gary Reed from Canada (season's best of 1.43.95) Riseley was still intent on victory.

“The idea was to win. You don't go into these races not thinking you can win,” said Riseley who trailed pacemaker David Krummenaker (USA) through 400m in 51.5s.

“I didn’t feel comfortable coming down the back straight,” Riseley admitted, despite looking like a winner with 300m to go.

He faded in the last 100m to finish in seventh place with 1.47.28s and the young man with high expectations was very disappointed.

“Today I didn't have it,” said Riseley who aspires for greatness on the world stage. 

“You're not going to do any good at worlds if you don't have that (winning) attitude." 

In other Australian results, Scott Martin was not at his best and threw 19.22m for eighth place in the men's shot put won by Christian Cantwell (USA) with 21.82m.

Shawn Forrest (13.52.08s) and David McNeill (14.00.75s) finished in 11th and 12th place respectively in the men's 5000m won by United Kingdom's Mo Farah in 13.09.14s.

In major international results, triple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt was introduced to thunderous applause from the London crowd filled with Jamaican expatriates and delivered an outstanding performance in the men's 100m.

Away slowly once again (reaction time 0.184) the world record holder easily dealt with the field winning in a canter with 9.91 into a headwind of minus 1.7m/s.

'My start wasn't my best but I'm improving, and I know I have more work to do. I'm in really good shape right now and I don’t see any reason to run myself out,”' said a relaxed Bolt after a celebratory lap around the Crystal Palace track.

Women's pole vault world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva suffered a race defeat in the women's pole vault.

“'I'm a little disappointed, it's unusual for me as I don't know how to come second,” said the Russian. Poland's Anna Rogowska won the wind-affected competition with 4.68m and ended the 2008 Olympic champion's run of consecutive wins at 18.

The London Grand Prix continues at Crystal Palace tonight with a plethora of Australians in action including Steve Hooker (PV), Sally McLellan (100mH), Fabrice Lapierre (LJ), Mitchell Watt (LJ), Henry Frayne (LJ), Paul Burgess (PV), Kim Mickle (javelin), Sean Wroe (400m), Benita Johnson (5000m), Collis Birmingham (mile), Ryan Gregson (mile) and  Jeremy Roff (mile).

Courtesy of Pat Birgan in London