08.02.2010

Gregson the highlight at Hunter

Australian Flame athlete Ryan Gregson has stormed home in personal best time to take out the men’s 800m and cap a thrilling night of track and field action at the inaugural Hunter Track Classic in Newcastle on Saturday night.

Gregson joined fellow Berlin world championships representative Tamysn Lewis, national 800m champion Nick Bromley and national 10,000m champion Eloise Wellings in headlining the action on a fast and furious night at the Newcastle track.

The Kembla Joggers athlete joined pacemaker Blake Vanderwoude (Bankstown), James Gurr (UTS Norths) and James Kaan (Hills) in the lead group at the 400m-mark, moving through the first lap in high-52 seconds with Bromley (UTS Norths) close behind.

Gregson was one of several athletes to step it up at the top bend, following instructions from his coach to make a move in the run home.

”I was told by my coach, Ian Hatfield, to wait until 150m to go,’’ Gregson said.

”I didn’t want to go too early and hit the wall 50m out.’’

Gregson opened up a comfortable gap in the last 50m to take out the win in 1:47.06, well ahead of his previous best time of 1:47.38 recorded in Rieti (ITA) in September.

“I managed to run strongly through the line,” Gregson said.

“It was great to get a win over a very quality field. I love to run in different areas. We run at Homebush regularly, so it was great to run somewhere different.”

Also making a move at the top bend was former world youth championships 400m finalist Tristan Garrett (UTS Norths).

”I got stuck on the inside on the second lap coming down the back straight, so I pushed my way through and I was feeling awesome and I was able to come home really well over the last 150m,’’ Garrett said.

The result was a big breakthrough for Garrett, who lowered his personal best time from 1:49.13 to 1:48.33.

“I felt awesome and I know I can go faster,” he said.

“It was a good run and only my second run of the season over 800m. Everything in training has been going well and just being in that race was going to make you run quick.”

Gurr rounded out the podium finishers in third place, his time of 1:48.61 his quickest in two years and just outside his career best. National champion Nick Bromley was fourth, ahead of a personal best 1:49.69 by James Nipperess (Sydney Uni) in fifth. Victorian teenager Jordan Williamsz clocked a personal best and world junior qualifying time of 1:49.72.

In other track action Olympian Tamsyn Lewis didn’t disappoint, posting a good run to win the women’s 400m in 52.86 ahead of local Trish Greaves (Macquarie Hunter) and Renee Robson (Bankstown).

One of the most popular competitors in Australia, Lewis relinquished her warm-down to sign autographs for the Newcastle crowd for almost 30 minutes. Lewis’ mum Carolyn, a Commonwealth Games high jumper, was born and raised in Newcastle.

“I’m a believer in supporting the domestic calendar. You can call me any time and I’ll come and run,” Lewis said,

In fourth place was teenager Anneliese Rubie (UTS Norths), who in her third consecutive race was just outside the world junior qualifying time in 55.21.

“All the hard work is finally paying off,’’ said the Sydney University student.

“This the first time I have trained right through the winter.’’

In the men’s 400m, teenager Kevin Moore (Mingara) recorded his third personal best time over 400m in as many races, clocking 47.06 to cross the line ahead of British 400m hurdler Danny Brandwood (Sydney Pacific).

“Today it came together after all the hard training," said Moore, an Australian College of Physical Education student.

“I had to run my own race, Brandwood went out so hard. I had a hard training session this week so I thought I would be a little tired.’'

The women’s 1500m was a high-standard race with World University Games silver medallist Kaila McKnight (Victoria) winning in a fast 4:13.97 ahead of 10,000m national champion Eloise Wellings (Sutherland) in 4:17.81.

“I’m pretty happy with it, I’ve only raced a few times this season,’’ McKnight said.

“There was good competition with Eloise and the other girls. We had a pacemaker who set it up well and I finished strongly.’’

In the field 2006 Commonwealth Games representative and six-time Australian high jump champion Nick Moroney (Macquarie Hunter) cleared 2.10m to edge out  fellow 2006 Games representative Mark Taylor (Macquaire Hunter) with 2.06m.

“My technique was pretty rusty, I haven’t jumped a lot recently with the track here closed for re-surfacing,” was Moroney’s critical assessment of his performance.

As for the future for the 38-year-old star of Australian high jumping?

“One jump at a time," Moroney laughed.

“While the body holds up and I’m still enjoying it I’ll keep going."

Despite walking away with the win Moroney was pushed all the way by the Newcastle-based Scottish international Taylor.

“I think I was pretty pumped with everyone here today,’’ Taylor said.

“I really forced the issue here and couldn’t get comfortable and relaxed. There was too much adrenalin and I lost technique mid-way through. The butterflies are back, which was good.’’

Taylor’s goal for 2010 is to clear 2.17m then 2.21m, the Scottish Commonwealth Games qualifying standard.

In other highlights:
- Ben St Lawrence (Randwick Botany) dominated the 3000m, clocking 7:55.91.
- World youth championships silver medallist Amy Pejkovic (Cherrybrook) cleared a world junior qualifying height of 1.80m in the women's high jump.
- Jump Start to London athlete Jacob Groth (Bankstown) won the 100m/200m sprint double, but the performance of the sprint program came from 16-year-old Nicholas Hough (Hills), who was second in the 100m ahead of many internationals.
- National javelin champion Ben Baker (Foster) was troubled by fouls but still managed to win the javelin with a throw of 70.84m.

With thanks to David Tarbotton