24.04.2009

Aussie charge continues on US college circuit

The US college track season continues to gain momentum with Australian distance runners Collis Birmingham, Michael Shelley, Ben St Lawrence and Lara Tamsett all set for action at the New York Road Runners Distance Carnival at the University of California in Berkeley this weekend.

The carnival field features 16 Olympians set to compete in professionally-paced races designed to help athletes achieve IAAF world championships qualifying times over 5000m, 10,000m and the 3000m steeplechase.

Birmingham, Shelley and St Lawrence will line up in today's men’s 10,000m in an event that pits the Aussie runners against top US steeplechaser and two-time Olympian Anthony Famiglietti and fellow Beijing Olympic representatives Martin Fagan (IRE) and Andrew Lemoncello (ENG).

St Lawrence enters the 25-lap race in blistering form, slashing 12 seconds off his personal best to clock a world championships B-qualifier over 5000m at the Mt San Antonio College Relays in California last weekend.

Tamsett will also take to the start line in top form, entering the women's race with a new personal best time in the 5000m at the Mt SAC event to her name.

On the east coast, the annual Penn State Relays will feature a dynamic Aussie line-up in the USA v world distance medley event.

John Steffensen (400m), Nick Bromley (800m), Craig Huffer (1200m) and Ryan Gregson (1600m) will lead the Australian charge against teams from Canada, France, Kenya and the USA in the battle for line honours.

The Penn Relays will be streamed live at www.thepennrelays.com - click here for direct access.