Home » News and Media » News » 2009 » July » PB sees Speers into world youth top eight
09.07.2009
Moving through to the final with a qualifying throw of 56.48m, Speers stepped it up a gear in tonight’s decider to record two personal best distances on his second and fourth throws.
Opening with a throw of 49.97m, Speers notched his first personal best for the night on his next attempt, launching the discus 58.29m to better the 57.54m he set in Sydney in March.
Fouling his third throw Speers regrouped to post a second personal best for the night, this time landing the discus 58.53m, almost a full metre ahead of his best mark prior to the world youth event.
“I got two personal bests and eighth for my age in the world so there’s no way I’m complaining, I’m ecstatic,” Speers said.
“That’s what you get when you go into a competition like this, you don’t know what you’re going to throw and I threw well, so I’m really happy.”
On his overseas debut in Bressanone, Speers said he hoped to take home with him the lessons learned from tonight’s performance.
“I hope this is going to reflect on some of my other competitions now because sometimes I do struggle with a bit of pressure but I’m getting better and today proved it, it’s good,” he said.
The event was taken out by Syrian athlete Hamid Manssour, who threw 64.20m to claim gold ahead of America’s Ryan Crouser (61.64m) and Jamaican Traves Smikle (61.22m).
“Considering they’re about three times bigger than me I was expecting some big throws out there, it’s impressive,” he said.
Speers’ effort capped an action-packed opening day of the world youth titles that saw eight Australians hit the track and field.
Joining Speers on the personal best honour roll were Alex Beck, who recorded his first run under 48.0 in the 400m to win his heat in a time of 47.98, and Kurt Jenner, who equalled his personal best 7.24m (w: 1.1) in the long jump qualification.
High jump duo Amy Pejkovic and Denise Snyder easily cleared the qualifying height of 1.77m to make it through to Friday's final and 800m specialists Jordan Williamsz and Alex Rowe placed first and second in their respective heats to comfortably move through to the next round.
Ten Australians will feature on day two of the meet, with Huw Peacock (hammer throw), Bronte Gange (800m), Cameron Hyde (110m hurdles), Mitchell Tysoe (110m hurdles), James Connor (1500m), Kane Grimster (1500m), Alexander Rowe (800m), Jordan Williamsz (800m), Andrew Neville (high jump) and Alex Beck (400m) all taking to the stage.
For all the action from the 6th IAAF world youth championships, click here.
News
PB sees Speers into world youth top eight
New South Wales athlete Liam Speers has set a new personal best to place eighth in the final of the boys’ discus throw at the world youth championships in Bressanone, Italy.Moving through to the final with a qualifying throw of 56.48m, Speers stepped it up a gear in tonight’s decider to record two personal best distances on his second and fourth throws.
Opening with a throw of 49.97m, Speers notched his first personal best for the night on his next attempt, launching the discus 58.29m to better the 57.54m he set in Sydney in March.
Fouling his third throw Speers regrouped to post a second personal best for the night, this time landing the discus 58.53m, almost a full metre ahead of his best mark prior to the world youth event.
“I got two personal bests and eighth for my age in the world so there’s no way I’m complaining, I’m ecstatic,” Speers said.
“That’s what you get when you go into a competition like this, you don’t know what you’re going to throw and I threw well, so I’m really happy.”
On his overseas debut in Bressanone, Speers said he hoped to take home with him the lessons learned from tonight’s performance.
“I hope this is going to reflect on some of my other competitions now because sometimes I do struggle with a bit of pressure but I’m getting better and today proved it, it’s good,” he said.
The event was taken out by Syrian athlete Hamid Manssour, who threw 64.20m to claim gold ahead of America’s Ryan Crouser (61.64m) and Jamaican Traves Smikle (61.22m).
“Considering they’re about three times bigger than me I was expecting some big throws out there, it’s impressive,” he said.
Speers’ effort capped an action-packed opening day of the world youth titles that saw eight Australians hit the track and field.
Joining Speers on the personal best honour roll were Alex Beck, who recorded his first run under 48.0 in the 400m to win his heat in a time of 47.98, and Kurt Jenner, who equalled his personal best 7.24m (w: 1.1) in the long jump qualification.
High jump duo Amy Pejkovic and Denise Snyder easily cleared the qualifying height of 1.77m to make it through to Friday's final and 800m specialists Jordan Williamsz and Alex Rowe placed first and second in their respective heats to comfortably move through to the next round.
Ten Australians will feature on day two of the meet, with Huw Peacock (hammer throw), Bronte Gange (800m), Cameron Hyde (110m hurdles), Mitchell Tysoe (110m hurdles), James Connor (1500m), Kane Grimster (1500m), Alexander Rowe (800m), Jordan Williamsz (800m), Andrew Neville (high jump) and Alex Beck (400m) all taking to the stage.
For all the action from the 6th IAAF world youth championships, click here.
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletters to keep up to date with Athletics in Australia.
More Headlines
23.05.2012
Ballard and Fearnley impress in Notwill
22.05.2012
ATHLETE UPDATE: May 22 - June 4
