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Pearson, Boyd and Cartwright shine at Adelaide Track Classic
IAAF World Athlete of the Year Sally Pearson (Qld) has delivered back-to-back victories in the women’s 100m and 200m at the Adelaide Track Classic this evening, as the Qantas Australian Athletics Tour saw the return of international athletics to South Australia for the first time in seven years.
In front of more than 2700 people, she was joined in the spotlight by Kelly Cartwright (Vic), who improved the T42 200m world record for leg amputees to 35.98 (w: -2.4), and Alana Boyd (WA), who improved her pole vault personal best to 4.61m for a third Athletics Australia qualifier for the Olympic Games.
Crossing in 11.32 (w: -1.4), Pearson opened her Qantas Australian Athletics Tour account with a dominant win the women’s 100m, ahead of Charlotte Van Veenendaal (ic, 11.60) and Papua New Guinean Toea Wisil (11.67).
Returning to the track for the women’s 200m shortly after, Pearson again burst out of the blocks to an unassailable lead coming into the straight. An unforgiving headwind prevented the world champion from a personal best, but her time of 23.14 into -3.6 m/s was outstanding.
Pearson said: “It was very, very windy and very tough conditions. Running into a -3 headwind in 23 [seconds] isn’t too shabby.
“With a wind like that I thought I was going to run 24 seconds. It was really tough out there, I executed my bend really well and came off it in good position and then held on with whatever I had left in the legs.
“It was nice coming back here because I won my first medal here at the Primary school nationals in the B relay, in 1998. It was great to see so many people come out and support the Qantas Australian Athletics Tour today, and I’m looking forward to Perth now.”
In the field, it was Alana Boyd (WA) who led from the front with a 4.61m personal best clearance to etch a third Athletics Australia qualifier next to her name just five weeks shy of the Olympic nomination trial.
Entering the competition at 4.25m, Boyd sailed over 4.45m and 4.61m on her first attempt before stumbling at 4.66m. She was joined on the podium by world youth championships representatives Paris McCathrion (Vic, second, 3.90m) and Elizabeth Parnov (WA, third, 3.90m)
Boyd said: “It was good, I started at 4.45m then moved through to 4.61 and then 66 so 61 was a personal best. I’m happy with that, it was only one centimeter but I’ll take it as a PB. I think it shows that there are certainly bigger heights in me. It’s only my second comp of the season off a full approach so it can only get better from here.
“I love competing in hot weather, I’m originally from Queensland so I’m used to the conditions and we’ve had a heat wave in Perth so it was nice come out here and have a nice prevailing tail wind. I’ve been jumping really well in training so everything has been coming together.”
Meanwhile, in the men’s pole vault on the front straight, reigning Olympic champion Steve Hooker (WA) cleared 5.00m off of eight steps to place third overall behind winner Joel Pocklington (Vic, first 5.15m).
Hooker said: “It was a tough day today, just waiting for the wind most of the day, it swirls around a bit here. But when there was good conditions it was possible to jump high, but the little time we have to take our jumps, if you get some bad wind there’s not much you can do.
“When I had good conditions my jump was really good and when you have good conditions you move through your poles. But it’s just hard to make them work into a headwind with a short approach, there are no variables you can change to account for the wind.”
Cartwright’s world record time adds a second such accolade to her ever expanding athletics resume after winning the F42 long jump gold at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships with a 4.19m world record leap last year.
Seventh overall in today’s combined ambulant event behind winner Stephanie Schweitzer (NSW, 27.76), Cartwright has her sights firmly set on coming home from London a Paralympic champion.
Cartwright said: “I’m so happy, it’s a bit unexpected this early in the year, but my training has been fantastic on the track and I am doing everything right away from the track too.
“My coach Tim (Matthews) is such a great support to me, he’s got me to where I am and it will be a big year for both of us. I’m aiming for two gold medals in London, but if I come away with two personal bests then that would be an awesome result.”
In other highlights:
- Ryan Gregson (NSW) and Jeff Riseley (Vic, 3:48.09) did battle across 1500m, with the national record holder Gregson taking line honours in 3:47.84.
- Josh Ross (Vic) crossed the line in 10.56 (w: -0.8) to win the men’s 100m (B Race), while Isaac Ntiamoah (NSW, 10.42, w: +0.8) took line honours in the men’s 100m A Race
- American Russ Winger heaved 60.98m in the men’s discus to edge out Australian and Oceania record holder Benn Harradine (Vic), who with 60.37m placed second.
- A 61.23m best mark saw 2009 world champion Dani Samuels (NSW) win the women’s discus throw. The result is her best performance since the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix last July where she threw 62.33m.
- Ben Offereins (WA) blazed the straight to win the men’s 400m in a time of 46.16, ahead of Matt Lynch (NSW, second, 46,48) and Sean Wroe (Vic, third, 46.69)
- Youcef Abdi (NSW), who already lays claim to two Athletics Australia qualifying standards for the Olympic Games, won the men’s 3000m steeplechase in 8:38.56.
- National decathlon champion Jarrod Sims (SA) won the Adelaide Airport Invitational 400m, crossing in a time of 49.59.
The Qantas Australian Athletics Tour now moves to Perth on February 11, while next weekend sees Australia’s best head to Hobart for the Briggs Athletics Classic on February 4.
To view and download results from the Adelaide Track Classic, please click here.
For more information on the Qantas Australian Athletics Tour and the National Athletics Series, please click here.
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