Home » News and Media » News » 2009 » April » Future stars get set for Adelaide
01.04.2009
A key stepping-stone on the path to the senior national circuit, the event will see 428 athletes from all over the country vie for glory across the three days of action.
As the final championship event of the 2008/09 domestic season, the meet will be the last chance for athletes to qualify for the world youth championships in Bressanone, Italy, in July.
The event will also offer athletes an early opportunity to gauge their progress in the lead-up to the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Athletes to feature across the weekend will include:
Male under 20:
In a clear sign that Australian distance running is experiencing a strong resurgence, an astonishing 24 athletes have nominated for the 1500m, forcing meet organisers to program heats for this event. Set to take to the start line are James Nipperess (NSW), who finished seventh (3:44.81) in this event at the national championships last month, and world youth qualifiers Kane Grimster (VIC) and James Connor (NSW). The event is fast shaping up as one of the most anticipated of the championships.
Newly-crowned national pole vault champion Blake Lucas (VIC) enters the competition in red-hot form, with the 2009 national title to his name and a new personal best height of 5.55m set in Melbourne last weekend.
Jordan Williamsz (VIC) has posted two world youth qualifying times in the 800m, with a personal best of 1:50.44 to his name. Williamsz will compete in the 800m and look to use his speed to cause an upset in the 1500m.
Damien Birkinhead (VIC) will start one of the hot favourites in the men’s shot put event. With three world youth qualifying performances under his belt this season and a best throw of 19.22m, Birkinhead will be looking to launch the shot well onto the infield at Santos Stadium.
Hammer thrower Huw Peacock (TAS) has achieved three world youth qualifying distances and, with a best throw of 69.68m, will be looking to crack the 70m mark for the first time in his career. Huw and brother Hamish will shoulder a heavy load this weekend, competing in both the hammer throw and shot put events.
10,000m walker Dane Bird-Smith (QLD) will be looking to add a third world youth qualifying time to his season’s tally.
Female under 20:
South Australian Paige Hooper has all but cemented her place in the Australian team for this year’s world youth championships, already posting four qualifying performances in the 5000m walk this season. With a personal best time of 23:50.86 in the 5000m event, Hooper could well secure another national title when she takes on the 10,000m walk on Friday night.
After twice finishing second to Dani Samuels in the discus and shot put events at the national championships last month, Kim Mulhall (VIC) will be out for back-to-back titles of her own in Adelaide. The 18-year-old powerhouse will start clear favourite in both events.
Five athletes entered in the women’s high jump have posted world youth qualifying performances this season, including Denise Snyder (VIC) and Amy Pejkovic (NSW), who have both jumped 1.81m.
Male under 23:
South Australia’s Clay Watkins has a big weekend ahead, set to contest the 100m, 200m and 400m. Watkins finished fourth in the 400m (46.46) at the national championships last month behind Beijing Olympians Sean Wroe and John Steffensen, and in the absence of his senior rivals will start a firm favourite for the one-lap race.
Female under 23:
Jump Start to London athlete Angeline Blackburn (ACT), recently named Athletics Australia’s Indigenous Athlete of the Year, will compete in the 200m and 400m events in Adelaide and be looking to go one better than her second place in the 400m (54:18) at the recent NSW championships.
For more information on the Under 20/23 Australian Athletics Championships, click here.
News
Future stars get set for Adelaide
The future stars of Australian track and field will be out in force at the Under 20/23 Australian Athletics Championships in Adelaide this weekend, with the nation’s best emerging athletes all set to descend on Santos Stadium for three days of hard-fought competition.A key stepping-stone on the path to the senior national circuit, the event will see 428 athletes from all over the country vie for glory across the three days of action.
As the final championship event of the 2008/09 domestic season, the meet will be the last chance for athletes to qualify for the world youth championships in Bressanone, Italy, in July.
The event will also offer athletes an early opportunity to gauge their progress in the lead-up to the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Athletes to feature across the weekend will include:
Male under 20:
In a clear sign that Australian distance running is experiencing a strong resurgence, an astonishing 24 athletes have nominated for the 1500m, forcing meet organisers to program heats for this event. Set to take to the start line are James Nipperess (NSW), who finished seventh (3:44.81) in this event at the national championships last month, and world youth qualifiers Kane Grimster (VIC) and James Connor (NSW). The event is fast shaping up as one of the most anticipated of the championships.
Newly-crowned national pole vault champion Blake Lucas (VIC) enters the competition in red-hot form, with the 2009 national title to his name and a new personal best height of 5.55m set in Melbourne last weekend.
Jordan Williamsz (VIC) has posted two world youth qualifying times in the 800m, with a personal best of 1:50.44 to his name. Williamsz will compete in the 800m and look to use his speed to cause an upset in the 1500m.
Damien Birkinhead (VIC) will start one of the hot favourites in the men’s shot put event. With three world youth qualifying performances under his belt this season and a best throw of 19.22m, Birkinhead will be looking to launch the shot well onto the infield at Santos Stadium.
Hammer thrower Huw Peacock (TAS) has achieved three world youth qualifying distances and, with a best throw of 69.68m, will be looking to crack the 70m mark for the first time in his career. Huw and brother Hamish will shoulder a heavy load this weekend, competing in both the hammer throw and shot put events.
10,000m walker Dane Bird-Smith (QLD) will be looking to add a third world youth qualifying time to his season’s tally.
Female under 20:
South Australian Paige Hooper has all but cemented her place in the Australian team for this year’s world youth championships, already posting four qualifying performances in the 5000m walk this season. With a personal best time of 23:50.86 in the 5000m event, Hooper could well secure another national title when she takes on the 10,000m walk on Friday night.
After twice finishing second to Dani Samuels in the discus and shot put events at the national championships last month, Kim Mulhall (VIC) will be out for back-to-back titles of her own in Adelaide. The 18-year-old powerhouse will start clear favourite in both events.
Five athletes entered in the women’s high jump have posted world youth qualifying performances this season, including Denise Snyder (VIC) and Amy Pejkovic (NSW), who have both jumped 1.81m.
Male under 23:
South Australia’s Clay Watkins has a big weekend ahead, set to contest the 100m, 200m and 400m. Watkins finished fourth in the 400m (46.46) at the national championships last month behind Beijing Olympians Sean Wroe and John Steffensen, and in the absence of his senior rivals will start a firm favourite for the one-lap race.
Female under 23:
Jump Start to London athlete Angeline Blackburn (ACT), recently named Athletics Australia’s Indigenous Athlete of the Year, will compete in the 200m and 400m events in Adelaide and be looking to go one better than her second place in the 400m (54:18) at the recent NSW championships.
For more information on the Under 20/23 Australian Athletics Championships, click here.
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