18.08.2009

Flame races towards finals

Billed as the most open race in the championships, the women's 100m hurdles started with a bang, with all the favourites, including our own Beijing silver medallist Sally McLellan, through to the semi-finals.

Lining up in heat three against reigning world champion Michelle Perry, who struggled with a heavily strapped knee, McLellan got out of the blocks in her usual quick and uncompromising fashion.

Leading the way throughout the race McLellan wasn’t happy with her time of 12.82 but was relieved to get the job done.

"I haven't raced since Stockholm Super Grand Prix so it wasn't my best race, I was just getting the cobwebs out," she said.

"Hopefully tomorrow night I can come out and run something better than 12.8. I can't promise anything, but I will do my best."

Olympic bronze medallist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep was the fastest qualifier in a slick 12.56, followed by Commonwealth champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Olympic champion Dawn Harper and Damu Cherry who placed fourth in Beijing. McLellan’s time places her as the equal eighth fastest qualifier.

McLellan was not concerned how fast the others ran tonight.

"There were fast times but I am not really thinking about anyone else but myself," she said.

McLellan made the semi-finals at the last world championships in Osaka running 12.82 for fifth to miss out on the final by just one place, but silver Sally is a lot more experienced on the world stage now and after a sensational European season, will be aiming to make an impact in Wednesday night’s final.

To view Sally McLellan's post-race interview click here

Earlier in the day the men’s 400m heats took place at the Olympic stadium and three great runs from Australia’s one-lappers saw them progress comfortably to tomorrow evening’s semi-final.

In heat three Beijing semi-finalist Joel Milburn, racing from lane eight, showed he is running into some good form after a difficult year with injury and technique. Millburn went out hard from the gun and entered the straight in the lead. Easing off slightly in the final 50m he finished in a season’s best time of 45.56 in third place.

Milburn was ecstatic with his first round.

“It’s fantastic, probably the best place to do a season's best,” he said.

"I haven’t had the best preparation leading into these champs but I’ve been training really well over the last month so I know it’s there, I just need to get out there and do it. It was definitely a good run for the first round.”

On the outside of the track he had few distractions and ran his own race.

“I came around the bend and had a quick peak because I didn’t know if I was running too fast, but once I saw I was in that top three I just relaxed down the home straight and ran through to the semi-finals,” he said.

To view Joel Milburn's post-race interview click here

Fellow Australian Flame and Olympic 4x400m silver medallist from Athens, John Steffensen, was up against Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt in heat four. Steffensen, in lane three, stuck to Merritt in lane four and cruised the lap in 45.37 to finish just behind the Olympic champion for an automatic qualification. It was a strong run from Steffensen, who looked comfortable throughout the journey, signaling that his injury concerns are under control and that the Commonwealth champion is in good shape.

Steffensen was thankful for his good lane draw and relieved that his body held up.

“It’s been a tough year. I have no expectations, it’s one a step at a time and one day at a time,” he said.

“My fingers are crossed. The next two (rounds) are going to be hard ones.”

To view John Steffensen's post-race interview click here

In the final heat, national champion and Beijing semi-finalist Sean Wroe was up against Martyn Rooney of Great Britain. Like Milburn, Wroe ran from lane eight and went out hard, leading at the 200m mark. Easing slightly in the straight Tabari Henry slid past him at the line and Wroe qualified second in 45.31.

Wroe was confident of his chances to progress to the final in his post-event press conference.

“I definitely think tomorrow is the time. I’ve built up my strength in all aspects of my 400m, I feel very comfortable going through that first 200m at the required pace and now I think I’m strong enough to come home. I know that now it’s just pure mental rehearsing, switching on the brain and just executing the perfect race,” he said.

Wroe knows it will be a challenge but is ready to bring his best.

“I think it will definitely take a PB to get through. I think tomorrow is the ideal time to go sub-45 seconds. I know that I am capable of doing it and that if I go out and do what I do most championships and bring out my PB I’ll be pretty stiff to not make the final. That’s all I’ve got stuck in my head, just bring my PB out tomorrow,” he said.

With three representatives into the semi-final Australia’s chances in the 4x400m relay are looking good. Only Australia, the USA, who will enter the race raging favorites, and the team from Great Britain have three athletes who have progressed. The Bahamas and France, who both have two athletes out of the heats, will be the other ones to watch in Saturday’s heats and the final on Sunday night.

To view Sean Wroe's post-race interview click here

Opening this morning’s session was 26-year-old Victorian Benn Harradine in the discus throw. Almost a local in Berlin, Harradine based himself in Potsdam, less than 30 kilometres away at the end of last year, and hoped the acclimatisation and local knowledge would help him perform well at these championships.

The national record-holder, at 66.37m, threw fourth in group A against defending champion Gerd Kanter from Estonia, with all throwers seeking the 64.50m qualifying mark.

Harradine opened with a throw of 60.73m, the opening round seeing Kanter easily make the qualification mark with a throw of 66.73m. Harradine lined up again, his face tense with concentration and managed to improve just over a metre to record 61.74m to put him in eighth place in his group with six athletes already through to the final.

After a quick chat to team throws coach Denis Knowles and some encouragement from Flame teammates Scott Martin and Justin Anlezark, Harradine prepared himself for his third and final throw.

The effort landed 60.79m from the circle, leaving him with a best mark of 61.74m from round two and in 15th position overall.

Making the final was Harradine’s goal and it hurt not to get there.

“It’s very disappointing. It’s been a great year, very consistent and no wind which was my goal. I would have loved to make the final but it just didn’t come out," he said.

The Jump Start to London athlete was tense throughout the competition.

“My first throw was killing the nerves which is always the hardest part,” he said.

“I warmed up well but you get the discus in your hand and things happen. I don’t know what it is but it comes down to experience. When you are at that top level like those guys that consistently throw 66m it’s easy, they just walk out, one throw and it’s just like any other day. For us, we’ve got to try and battle for those top 12 spots and when we don’t know we have 66m or 68m in the bank, it’s a hard battle.”  

Harradine knows that to get to the top in his event he has plenty of work to do but he is putting in the hard yards to get there.

“To get to the next level I need to work. I’ve pretty much sacrificed this year to work hard over here in Germany and I feel like I have had a lot of benefit. I’ve been much more consistent in still air, you know, no wind but I need to work on my acceleration, that’s the key for me I think. I’m not overly strong, I’m not overly massive but I need to work on accelerating the discus at the end,” he said.

To view Ben Harradine's post-event interview click here

At the other end of the field, Canberra-based high jumper Petrina Price entered today’s world championships in the form of her life. Price jumped a personal best of 1.94m at Cottbus, Germany just 10 days ago and she was hopeful that she could jump a personal best and make the qualifying mark of 1.95m but bowed out of the competition after clearing 1.89m. Looking relaxed Prince leapt cleanly at 1.80m, 1.85m and 1.89m but couldn’t keep the bar up at 1.92m. She finished equal 17th in the competition.

Price jumped in group A with local favorite Ariane Friedrich, who is Germany's best chance for a gold medal at these championships, in-form Italian Antonietta Di Martino and American veteran Amy Acuff who is a six-time finalist at world championships all of whom made the automatic mark and will advance through alongside Croatian event favorite Blanka Vlasic.

Price was visibly disappointed not to make it through to the final.

“I was so excited to be out there and jumping again. Unfortunately 92 didn’t stay on, I jumped 94 a week and a half ago so I’m disappointed but I can walk away from these championships with my head held high,” she said.

After a challenging few years with injury and changes of coach Price has learned a lot and is glad to be back at the top of her sport.

“I’ve learned that I’m back now and I’m ready to start my brand new career. After 2004 it was shattering to me. I learned a lot from that and in those five years. Now I’m back and I’m ready to take on the girls,” she stated.

To view Petrina Price's post-event interview click here

It was a great day on the track for the Australian Fame with four athletes progressing to the semi-finals. The action will continue tomorrow morning when 21-year-old discus thrower Dani Samuels will compete in the made-for-television 'invisible' throws cage. Samuels is a five time national champion and should comfortably throw the required qualification mark of 61.50m, which is 1.5m less than her personal best of 62.95. Placing ninth in Beijing, the NSW athlete was devastated to miss the top eight and is looking to show the world that she is a real contender.

In the evening session Joel Milburn, John Steffensen and Sean Wroe will return to the track in the 400m semi-final hoping to feature in Friday’s final and Sally McLellan will line up in the semi-final and hopefully the final of the 100m hurdles. It will be a big night for the Australian Flame - stay tuned for live coverage, results, videos and photos from day five of the 12^th IAAF World Athletics Championships.

SBS will broadcast the championships live from 2am until 4.30am on SBS ONE, featuring the men’s discus throw, women’s 100m hurdles and the women’s 800m. SBS TWO will show the championships live from 2am until 5am and an evening highlights program hosted by David Basheer from 6.00pm–6.30pm - tune in to watch the Australian Flame in action!