Strong Ostrava opening for Australian team

The Australian duo of Kimberly Mulhall and Vika Lolo have finished fourth and sixth respectively in the final of the discus on day one of the IAAF World Youth Championships in Ostrava.

The opening day of competition featured nine personal best performances with eight Australian athletes progressing through to the next round.

Following in the footsteps of 2005 World Youth champion Dani Samuels, Kimberley Mulhall, the niece of 1984 Olympic bronze medallist Gael Martin, launched the discus 48.21 metres, missing out on the bronze medal by just three metres. NSWIS thrower Vika Lolo reached 45.60m to place sixth.

“They did a terrific job and I’m really rapt with both girls. Our first top eight!” an excited and proud team manager Sara Mulkearns told Athletics Australia Media.

Victorian young gun Daniel Martin, who ran 13.93 in the semi-final of the 100m hurdles, has qualified fifth fastest for tonight’s much-anticipated final. His coach Pam Ryan, the 1968 Olympic hurdles silver medallist, will be on hand to disseminate valuable advice to her young charge prior to his first final on the international stage.

Outstanding young Tasmanian javelin thrower Hamish Peacock improved on his personal best by 28cm, launching the javelin 74.86m to qualify in second position for tonight’s final. Geelong hope Luke Bissett also progressed to the final with a throw of 69.98 metres.

Melissa Duncan (VIC) stopped the clock in 4:25.46 to finish fourth (seventh fastest overall) in her heat of the 1500m, and 2000m steeple chase athlete Richard Everest (SA) crossed the line in 5:55.68 to finish second in his heat, fifth fastest overall. Both of their training groups from Knox and Flinders Athletics Clubs will be waiting with bated breath for Friday night’s final.

Triple jumper Tahnee Reynolds-Hopkins landed 12.16 metres in the sand on her second effort, however, posted fouls on her first and third attempts.With three athletes recording 12.16m, the West Australian was knocked back to 13^th position on countback, however she still managed to scrape through to the final after team management had discussions with officials.

It was raining personal bests left, right and centre in the octathlon. After four events, Queenslander Adam Bevis is sitting third on the table with 3255 points, with Victorian Daniel Bailey 16^th with a total of 2865.

Bevis secured four new best marks in the 100m (10.99), 400m (51.12), long jump (7.09m) and shot put (15.06m). Not to be outdone, Bailey produced four new bests in the 100m (11.66), 400m (51.49), long jump (6.73m) and shot put (12.70m).

800m runner James Kaan (1:53.68) progressed through to the semi-final, as did 2005 World Youth 200m finalist Olivia Tauro (12.10) in the 100m.

“They were really pleasing results all around tonight and we’ll see how all of the athletes pull up tomorrow,” continued Mulkearns.

“The flu has gone right through the team which is a bit of a concern and Adam Bevis is nursing a sore shoulder but other than that the morale in the team is really good.”

High jumpers Mia MacKinnon and Trudy Thompson both cleared 1.70m but did not progress, nor did 1500m runner Chloe Tighe (4:51.68) who has been battling illness. NSWIS sprinter Jacinta Doyle was unlucky to be knocked out in the 100m after clocking 12.15 in the quarter-final.

Fourteen members of our team will be in action on day two of competition:
 
Rachel Birtles (WA) - pole vault qualification
Vicky Parnov (WA) - pole vault qualification
Jessie Couch (VIC) - 400m hurdles heats
Adam Bevis (QLD) - octathlon
Daniel Bailey (VIC) - octathlon
Daniel Martin (VIC) - 110m hurdles final
Hamish Peacock (TAS) - javelin final
Like Bissett (VIC) - javelin final
James Kaan (NSW) - 800m semi finals
Olivia Tauro (NSW) - 100m semi finals and final
Josh Hall (QLD) - high jump qualification
Tahnee Reynolds-Hopkins (WA) - triple jump final
Melissa Hayes (NSW) - 5000m walk final
Paige Hooper (SA) - 5000m walk final

Stay tuned to athletics.com.au for all of the Australian news and results from the 5th IAAF World Youth Championships.
 
The official website of the 5th IAAF World Youth Championships can be found here.