11.07.2010

Baines bags new national record en route to world junior titles

Australian Spark athlete Sam Baines has commenced his 2010 IAAF world junior championships campaign on the best possible note, setting a new Australian Under 20 record in the 110m hurdles on day one of the Trevor Craven Memorial Meet in Vancouver, Canada.

In his first hit-out on Canadian soil since touching down in Vancouver on Thursday, Baines wasted no time in finding his form ahead of the start of the world junior titles in Moncton on Monday, July 19.

The 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallist and reigning Under 20 Australian champion clocked 13.56 (w:0.0) to etch his name into the record books, eclipsing Daniel Martin’s former Australian junior benchmark of 13.60 set in Adelaide in April last year.

In claiming the national Under 20 mark, 19-year-old Baines becomes holder of both the national Under 18 (13.28, 4/12/2008) and Under 20 110m hurdles records.

Baines said the record, which he had broken four times in unsanctioned conditions before today’s race, had been a long time coming.

“It feels pretty good, I’ve run the time before but this was my first official one so it’s good to get it away before world juniors,” he said.

Despite the record run Baines said a second national record was already in his sights.

“I feel like I’ve still got a lot to improve on, I have improved so far and I’ve still got some improvement to do so I’m pretty confident heading into the meet,” he said.

“The goal is to beat my 91cm personal best time which is 13.28, so if I beat that I’ll be stoked.”

Baines was joined in today's 110m hurdles event by Australian Spark teammate Mitchell Tysoe, who placed second in a time of 14.13.

Emerging 400m runner Steve Solomon also impressed on day one at Swangard Stadium, backing up the personal best time of 47.03 he set at yesterday's Kajaks International Track Classic with a blistering opening leg of the boys' 4x400m relay. Solomon clocked 45.65 (unofficial) before handing the baton on to Australian Spark teammates Johnny Rayner, Grant Billingham and Joel Bee, the team crossing the line in 3:10.91.

In the girls' 4x400m relay event Caitlin Sargent opened the charge before handing over to Anneliese Rubie and Louise Maybury. A local recruit brought the team home in 3:51.45.

In other relay action, the boys' 4x100m team of Jake Hammond, Patrick Fakiye, Baines and Tysoe clocked 40.68 while the girls' foursome of Rosie Lawson, Ella Nelson, Karlie Morton and Sargent crossed the line in 46.46 (DQ).

Rounding out the track results, Fakiye clocked 10.87 (w:-2.0) in the individual 100m event, Rosie Lawson backed up her run at yesterday's Kajaks International Track Classic with a run of 14.09 (w:-0.7) in the 100m hurdles and Adrian Plummer stopped the clock at 50.63 in the boys' two-lap event.

Headlining the action in the field were Brooke Stratton with a leap of 6.01m (NWI) in the girls' long jump, Kim Mulhall with a heave of 14.27m in the shot put and Lara Nielsen with a best effort of 54.90m in the hammer throw.

The 36-strong Australian Spark squad will line up for its third and final day of competition ahead of the IAAF titles tomorrow on day two of the Trevor Craven Memorial Meet, before departing for Moncton next Wednesday, July 14.

Photo courtesy of Brent Vallance