Home » News and Media » News » 2010 » March » Field gets long jump on Watt
24.03.2010
Following the release of handicaps for the 129thStawell Gift today, Watt (2.5m) joins Nigerian international Bola Lawal (.5m) and fellow Australian world championships representative Anthony Alozie (.75m) at the back of the field.
Watt, who celebrates his 22nd birthday tomorrow, burst onto the athletics scene in 2008 after a five year hiatus and has since secured bronze medals at the 2009 world championships in Berlin (GER) and 2010 world indoor championships in Doha (QAT).
The long jump sensation currently sits at No. 2 on the Australian all-time list behind Jai Taurima, with a personal best jump of 8.43m (+2.0) in Greece in July last year. Taurima jumped the national record of 8.49m (+0.6) to win the silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Just as fast on the track as he is on the runway, Watt staked his claim as the fastest long jumper in Australian history in May 2009, posting a flying 10.37m (+1.3) in his long jump spikes in club competition on the Gold Coast.
Two metres behind Watt, backmarker Lawal has received a .75m pull following his semi-final appearance in the 2009 Stawell Gift and impressive win at this month’s IAAF Melbourne Track Classic (10.33, +1.2) ahead of Australian record-holder Patrick Johnson (10.42) and the in-form Matt Davies (10.43).
World and Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker, without his trademark pole, will look to conquer his latest endeavour off a mark of 5.5m.
Reigning Stawell Gift champion Aaron Stubbs has been pulled 3.25m and will attempt to defend his title from 4m.
The 19-year-old is in impressive form, posting a personal best time of 10.66 (0.0) in the heats of the Queensland state championships last weekend. The time bettered his previous best of 10.71 (+1.6) recorded in January.
Stubbs is joined by fellow former Stawell Gift champions, 2006 winner Adrian Mott (3.75m) and 1999 winner Rodney Matthews (10m).
Stawell Gift promoter David Culbert said it was a fascinating set of handicaps that will have the athletics world talking about the prospects of a range of runners.
“Certainly for Mitchell Watt, 2.5m seems pretty fair. And given that (Dean) Capobianco won off 2.25m, then you’d have to think that if Watt can run on grass, he is a huge chance,” he said.
“The same goes for Steve Hooker. A mark of 5.5m for a world and Olympic champion will ensure he has plenty of punters lining up to get on board. Even Aaron Stubbs as the defending champion, who strolled home last year and has improved since then, off 4m looks a real chance.
“But as always, it’s the smokey hiding away off 7m plus that everyone will be looking for and I am sure there is many a stable that think they have that guy in their training squad.”
Other notable athletes include Jump Start to London athlete Jacob Groth, the fourth fastest man in Australia in 2010 with a time of 10.44 (+0.6) at the Sydney Track Classic last month who will run off 3.25m, and rising junior star and recently selected world junior championships r epresentative Tom Gamble, who will start off 5.5m.
In the women's Gift, three-time national 400m hurdles champion Lauren Boden will start as the backmarker on 1.75m. 2008 world indoor 800m champion and Australian Flame athlete Tamsyn Lewis will start alongside Kilsyth’s Katie Moore on 2m.
Full handicaps for the Australia Post Stawell Gift carnival available here.
2010 Australia Post Stawell Gift – BACKMARKERS
Bola LAWAL NGR .5m
Anthony ALOZIE VIC .75m
Mitchell WATT VIC 2.5m
Jacob GROTH NSW 3.25m
Matt CARTER VIC 3.5m
Adrian MOTT VIC 3.75m
Nathan CARR QLD 4m
Aaron STUBBS QLD 4m
Carl MOREHOUSE VIC 4.25m
Iain MACFARLANE NSW 4.75m
This year’s Gift will have the broadest coverage of any edition in history, with a two-hour live broadcast on Network Ten/One HD and the Australia Network across the Asia-Pacific, and the Gift final also live on Sky Channel.
The 2010 Stawell Gift carnival will be staged from Friday 2nd to Monday 5th April, 2010.
News
Field gets long jump on Watt
World championships long jump bronze medallist Mitchell Watt will witness the full spectacle of the Stawell Gift when he makes his Central Park debut as one of the backmarkers this Easter.Following the release of handicaps for the 129thStawell Gift today, Watt (2.5m) joins Nigerian international Bola Lawal (.5m) and fellow Australian world championships representative Anthony Alozie (.75m) at the back of the field.
Watt, who celebrates his 22nd birthday tomorrow, burst onto the athletics scene in 2008 after a five year hiatus and has since secured bronze medals at the 2009 world championships in Berlin (GER) and 2010 world indoor championships in Doha (QAT).
The long jump sensation currently sits at No. 2 on the Australian all-time list behind Jai Taurima, with a personal best jump of 8.43m (+2.0) in Greece in July last year. Taurima jumped the national record of 8.49m (+0.6) to win the silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Just as fast on the track as he is on the runway, Watt staked his claim as the fastest long jumper in Australian history in May 2009, posting a flying 10.37m (+1.3) in his long jump spikes in club competition on the Gold Coast.
Two metres behind Watt, backmarker Lawal has received a .75m pull following his semi-final appearance in the 2009 Stawell Gift and impressive win at this month’s IAAF Melbourne Track Classic (10.33, +1.2) ahead of Australian record-holder Patrick Johnson (10.42) and the in-form Matt Davies (10.43).
World and Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker, without his trademark pole, will look to conquer his latest endeavour off a mark of 5.5m.
Reigning Stawell Gift champion Aaron Stubbs has been pulled 3.25m and will attempt to defend his title from 4m.
The 19-year-old is in impressive form, posting a personal best time of 10.66 (0.0) in the heats of the Queensland state championships last weekend. The time bettered his previous best of 10.71 (+1.6) recorded in January.
Stubbs is joined by fellow former Stawell Gift champions, 2006 winner Adrian Mott (3.75m) and 1999 winner Rodney Matthews (10m).
Stawell Gift promoter David Culbert said it was a fascinating set of handicaps that will have the athletics world talking about the prospects of a range of runners.
“Certainly for Mitchell Watt, 2.5m seems pretty fair. And given that (Dean) Capobianco won off 2.25m, then you’d have to think that if Watt can run on grass, he is a huge chance,” he said.
“The same goes for Steve Hooker. A mark of 5.5m for a world and Olympic champion will ensure he has plenty of punters lining up to get on board. Even Aaron Stubbs as the defending champion, who strolled home last year and has improved since then, off 4m looks a real chance.
“But as always, it’s the smokey hiding away off 7m plus that everyone will be looking for and I am sure there is many a stable that think they have that guy in their training squad.”
Other notable athletes include Jump Start to London athlete Jacob Groth, the fourth fastest man in Australia in 2010 with a time of 10.44 (+0.6) at the Sydney Track Classic last month who will run off 3.25m, and rising junior star and recently selected world junior championships r epresentative Tom Gamble, who will start off 5.5m.
In the women's Gift, three-time national 400m hurdles champion Lauren Boden will start as the backmarker on 1.75m. 2008 world indoor 800m champion and Australian Flame athlete Tamsyn Lewis will start alongside Kilsyth’s Katie Moore on 2m.
Full handicaps for the Australia Post Stawell Gift carnival available here.
2010 Australia Post Stawell Gift – BACKMARKERS
Bola LAWAL NGR .5m
Anthony ALOZIE VIC .75m
Mitchell WATT VIC 2.5m
Jacob GROTH NSW 3.25m
Matt CARTER VIC 3.5m
Adrian MOTT VIC 3.75m
Nathan CARR QLD 4m
Aaron STUBBS QLD 4m
Carl MOREHOUSE VIC 4.25m
Iain MACFARLANE NSW 4.75m
This year’s Gift will have the broadest coverage of any edition in history, with a two-hour live broadcast on Network Ten/One HD and the Australia Network across the Asia-Pacific, and the Gift final also live on Sky Channel.
The 2010 Stawell Gift carnival will be staged from Friday 2nd to Monday 5th April, 2010.
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