22.02.2010

Australia and New Zealand battle it out in Auckland

Competing against New Zealand in Auckland, the Athletics Australia 21s Squad challenged our traditional rivals for the Trans-Tasman Cup on Saturday.

Opening the Australian account strongly were Annabel Davies and Josh Lumley. Davies, in the women’s javelin, threw 49.07m as part of a series of great throws whilst Lumley, competing in the triple jump, took out the event after leaping 15.45m.

In the men’s 800m it was an all-Australian affair at the front, with Lee Berry (1:51.04) taking victory ahead of countryman and early leader Fraser Coss (1:52.05) signalling a great start to the team’s track event schedule.

In what was an outstanding performance from the 16 competing Australians against a much larger New Zealand team, Josh Hall posted the performance of the day leaping a Commonwealth Games B-qualifying height of 2.21m in the men’s high jump and placing him in a fantastic position ahead of further competition that will culminate with the Go for 2&5 88th Australian Athletics Championships and Selection Trials to be held in Perth in April.

The meet itself wrapped up a four-day camp in the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’ that focused on the development of the skills required to compete at an international level.

Featuring a series of sports psychology sessions led by Tara Kavanagh and development forums under the guidance of Athletics International mentors Charlene Rendina, Maxine Corcoran, Peter Bourke and Bruce Frayne, the camp was aimed at providing some stepping stones needed for up-and-coming athletes to achieve selection to the New Delhi-hosted Commonwealth Games in October.

In other strong performances at the meet:

- Jared Bezuidenhout held on to win the 110m hurdles in a close-fought contest in 15.15.

- After an early lead Emily Brichacek finished third in the women’s 3000m in a time of 9:28.58

- In the men’s 400m, Kevin Moore placed first in 47.22 ahead of David Burke, third in 47.73.

- The women’s 800m provided an Aussie quinella with Kelly Hetherington, who was leading at the bell, unable to hold off Trychelle Kingdom. Kingdom crossed the line in 2:08.27 with Hetherington finishing second in 2:09.27

- James Nipperess in a solo effort took out the 1500m in 3:50.12 in what was a great effort of front running.

- Andrew Peska easily accounted for his competitors, winning the discus with a 52.60m throw.

- Olivia Tauro was an additional starter in the men’s 400m, running well from lane eight in a time of 53.95.

- Zoe Timmers won the women’s high jump leaping 1.82m.

- Virginia Trad had a busy day winning the women’s 100m hurdles in 14.88 into a 2.4 headwind, finishing third in the 100m in 12.36 and running a leg of the women’s medley relay.

- The men’s relay team of Bezuidenhout, Moore, Coss and Burke accounted for its New Zealand opposition in winning the medley in 1:31.84.

In other results from the weekend, Western Australian pole vaulter Elizabeth Parnov has leapt a Commonwealth Games A-qualifying height of 4.30m in Perth.

Parnov’s performance adds weight to her eligibility for Commonwealth Games selection on the back of her five B-qualifying outings so far.

On the Gold Coast, Beijing Olympics silver medallist Sally McLellan returned to competitive athletics following a lengthy layover due to injury that hampered her world championships campaign, lining up in the 100m at the Glynis Nunn Shield.

Placing first in the event, McLellan’s performance of 11.54 (+0.04) falls just outside the Commonwealth Games A-qualifying standard but offers an encouraging preview of her entry to the Sydney Track Classic at Sydney Olympic Park this Saturday night.

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With thanks to Bridget Corcoran