01.08.2008

Super-fast 1000m for Riseley in Stockholm

Two weeks out from the world championships, Victorian Jeff Riseley has run the second-fastest 1000m ever by an Australian, slashing his personal best by 1.4s to clock 2.17.35s at the DN Galan super grand prix in Stockholm overnight.

“That's good. The best thing about that was that I was close. I was fourth and I beat Bernard Lagat and he will be one of the guys to beat in Berlin,”' said the 22 year-old who also ran a personal best in this race last year.

Grant Cremer's Australian record from 2000 (2.16.61s) remained intact, but only just as Riseley constantly jostled his way around the two and a half laps to maintain position.

“There was real fighting and I was doing my fair share of it. I won't lie, I wanted the Australian record tonight.”

The Australian only got a clear run late in the final lap.

“I had to go wide and ran out of legs in the last 30m. I had elephants all over my back.”

Ali Bilal Mansoor (Bahrain) won the race in 2:16.55s with last year's 800m sensation Abubaker Kaki from Sudan only half of a second ahead of Riseley.

“I am running well and anything can happen. There are a lot of good guys out there. If I can get my tactics right I have the ability,” concluded Riseley who will run the 1500m at the World Championships in Berlin.

Hooker limited to 5.61m in the trying conditions

Flukey winds and a cool change limited Steve Hooker to 5.61m in the men's pole vault .

The 2008 Olympic Champion made that vault on his last attempt and was joined at 5.71m by Sweden's Jesper Fritz and Maksym Mazuryk from the Ukraine.

None of the three men could negotiate this height and first time clearances at 5.61m for Fritz and Mazuryk were enough for a rare win, albeit on a countback, over the Australian.

Paul Burgess finished sixth with 5.31m.

Lewis runs 52.62s in final flat 400m before worlds

Tamsyn Lewis had her last race over the flat 400m ahead of finalising preparations for her international debut over 400m hurdles at the world championships in Berlin.

Lewis was quick out of the blocks and looked sharper than in any of her previous races this European summer.

“That was my race plan to take it out a bit,” said the 31-year-old.

Lewis entered the final 100m in equal second just behind eventual winner Nicola Sanders (51.55s) from Great Britain before fading over the last 50 metres to finish fifth in a quality field.

Lewis was frustrated with her time (52.62s) but remained positive about her form. 

“All the girls have run 50 point or 49s. I don't think it's far away.”

Known for her strength in the second half of her one-lap, this time Lewis' early speed perhaps cost her a better time. 

“I am really annoyed because I died in the home straight.”

Lewis now turns her attention to the 400m hurdles where she will race twice in Germany before heading to the capital for the world championships .

McLellan's see-saw battle with rivals continue

Fresh from a new Australian record of 12.50s in Monaco, Sally McLellan lined up twice over the 100m hurdles in the Stockholm Olympic Stadium.

In the heats, McLellan was clearly away better than rivals Perdita Felicien (Canada) and Brigitte Foster-Hilton (Jamaica) but a technical glitch over the third hurdle slowed her to 12.80s (wind +1.8m/s).

“I don't know what happened. For the final I am feeling alright,” said the Olympic silver medallist.

Felicien won the heat in a fast 12.53s. Compatriot Priscilla Lopes-Schliep took out the second heat in exactly the same time. 

In the final, McLellan again clearly led her rivals at the start and looked a winner mid-way through the race. However, she clipped the eighth hurdle and that was enough for Lopes-Schliep to take victory in 12.51s with American Lolo Jones a whisper away in second with 12.52s. 

McLellan placed fourth in 12.64s but her focus remains on Berlin.

“Like I have been saying to everyone, make the final and see what happens.”

Solid races for Wroe and Steffensen

Two of Australia's 400m world championship representative's, Sean Wroe and John Steffensen, lined up against world champion's Jeremy Wariner and Kerron Clement and both ran solid races.

Wroe was pleased with how his quest to make a major 400m final is progressing, running 45.91s to place fifth in the A race.

“At this kind of level it's about racing, not times. I've consistently run 45s in Europe which is more consistent than last year,”' said Wroe who is keen to step-up to a new level in Berlin.  

“I have been a semi-final contender for the last two champs and I want to go that one step further. I definitely know I can do it.”

Steffensen is working to overcome back problems and on a positive note pulled up fine after today's race where he finished seventh in 46.16s.

“The good thing is that I had no pain. The last two races it was horrible. I thought it was the end of the season,” said Steffensen who remains optimistic about his chances in Berlin.  

“It's been a pretty up and down season. I want to get to world's with a healthy body. Finger's crossed.”

2008 Olympic Games semi-finalist Joel Milburn ran 46.89s for fourth in the men's 400m B race.

In other Australian results

Youcef Abdi placed 11th in the 3000m steeplechase crossing the line in 8:35.91. The race was taken out by Kenya’s Michael Kipyego with 8:17.17.

Scott Martin (19.32m) and Justin Anlezark (18.86m) were well down on their best form in the men's shot put held in the Stockholm town centre the day before the meet.

The Australians finished ninth and tenth respectively behind the personal best performance of Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski (21.95m).

Kaila McKnight ran a 4.11.57s for 11th place in the women's 1500m.

Fast times for Felix and Gay

Dual world champion Tyson Gay won the men's 100m in 9.79s (wind +2.6), a great time considering the cold change that had come through the stadium at that stage.

Fellow American, Allyson Felix was rewarded with a diamond as a result of a scintillating stadium record of 21.88s in the women's 200m.

The 48-strong Australian athletics team will finalise their preparations at a camp in Cologne, Germany, ahead of the world championships to be staged in Berlin from August 15 – 23.

Pat Birgan in Stockholm