Related News 

28.02.2009

Happy Hooker extends win streak to six

25.02.2009

Gainsford-Taylor joins national selection panel

24.02.2009

Samuels in a spin over Olympic champion's visit

Olympic stars set to shine at Sydney Track Classic

The stage is set for tomorrow night’s Sydney Track Classic, with seven current Olympic champions to compete in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Sydney Olympic Park.

The battle is on for the showcase event with the men’s pole vault and 400m fields boasting world-class line ups that guarantee to provide plenty of entertainment and quality results.

Here are ten reasons why you should secure yourself a seat at Sydney Olympic Park tomorrow night:

Men’s Pole Vault

If the Sydney crowds are lucky, they may witness a world record on their own home soil tomorrow night at Olympic Park. After a few close attempts, Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker could once again have a crack at Sergey Bubka’s long-standing world record, if the conditions are in his favour.

Hooker is in sensational form, winning five consecutive indoor competitions this year, including a personal best of 6.06m in Boston, the second-highest leap of all time.

Hooker will come face-to-face with the man he defeated in that heart-stopping Olympic battle in Beijing when he jumps against Russian Yevgeniy Lukyanenko.  Add to the mix Hooker’s training partner Paul Burgess, former Olympic record holder Tim Mack and Mexican Giovanni Lavaro and the action six metres high heats right up.

Men’s 400m

The men’s 400m is shaping us as the hottest race on the schedule.

On Monday it was announced that the second fastest man in the world, Jamaican Asafa Powell will compete in the 400m, setting up a highly-anticipated showdown over the one lap. Powell has a personal best of 47.17, and it will be interesting to see how he plans to attack the race.

The addition of Powell to the start list, gives even more weight to an already impressive 400m line up which includes American Xavier ‘X-Man’ Carter, Commonwealth Games champion John Steffensen, Olympic semi-finalists Joel Milburn and Sean Wroe, and rising star Kurt Mulcahy. Athens silver bullet Clinton Hill and Jamaicans Sanjay Ayre and Wilan Lewis complete the talent-laden field.

Women’s 100m

Sally McLellan recently broke the Australian record for 60m at the Boston Indoor Games and has predicted that Melinda Gainsford-Taylor’s long standing national 100m record of 11.12 is in grave danger this Australian summer.

Which leads to the possibility that Hooker, who is in career best form, and McLellan could both break records tomorrow night.

Clocking 11.26 at the Queensland Championships last week, fans will witness a sensation showdown between McLellan and the fastest Australian woman of 2008, Melissa Breen.

The Olympic silver medallist will also compete in her pet event, the 100m hurdles, tomorrow night.

Men’s 4×100m

Luckily for Powell, his first event on Saturday night’s program will not require him to complete the entire 400m lap alone, with three of his Jamaican teammates lining up alongside him to compete in the men’s 4 x 100m relay.

Fellow 4 x 100m relay Beijing gold medallists and world record holders Mike Frater and Nestor Carter will join Powell to take on Australia’s best sprinters.

Women’s discus

Former world junior champion Dani Samuels will get the opportunity to throw against the world’s best on home soil when she takes on Beijing Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Brown-Trafton from the USA in the women’s discus.

The Sydney-based young gun, will gain invaluable experience from Brown-Trafton’s time down under, when they meet for just the second time, their only other encounter in the Beijing Olympic final where Samuel’s finished ninth.

Men’s 400m Hurdles

World champion Bershawn Jackson (USA) and Commonwealth Games champion LJ Van Zyl (RSA) headline a quality 400m hurdles field.

In Beijing last year, Jackson was part of the United States only clean sweep in athletics, the 25-year-old pocketing his first Olympic medal – a bronze. Van Zyl finished a close fifth in the final.

For in-form Tasmanian Tristan Thomas, competing against the world-class pair this summer will provide valuable competition, as he chases his second ‘A’ qualifer for the Berlin world championships.

Men’s 110m Hurdles

American athlete David Oliver capped off a highly successful 2008 campaign by winning the bronze medal in the 110m hurdles at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

The two-time NCAA All-American ran the second-fastest time in the world last year – 12.95 in Doha in May – the tenth fastest time in history.

Tomorrow night, he will line up on the starting blocks alongside two-time Australian champion Justin Merlino.

After missing out on the Australian team by a whisker for the 2007 world championships and 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 23-year-old Sydneysider is desperately trying to post a qualifying time for the 2009 world championships. Oliver’s presence may just push him over the line.

Men’s 1500m

Three quality Africans will battle it out against two in-form Australians in the men’s 1500m. Headlining the field is Kenya-born, now Bahrainian Youssef Saad Kamel, who finished fifth in the 800m final in Beijing. For the 1500m he boasts a best time of 3.32.83.

Fellow Kenyans Bernard Kiplogat and Gideon Gathamba will also be strong.  

Leading the charge for the Australians, is Sydney-sider Jeremy Roff, who recently posted a new 800m best. Roff is in the form of his life and will want to impress in front of his home crowd. Victorian 5000m Olympian Collis Birmingham, who has just completed a stint of training at Falls Creek, will also pose a threat.

Women’s 400m hurdles

Olympic champion Melaine Walker will highlight the women’s 400m hurdles event.

Walker took out the gold in Beijing in sensation style, posting an Olympic record in the process.

ACT’s Lauren Boden will lead the way for the Aussies.

Women’s shot put

Olympic shot put gold medallist Valerie Villi from New Zealand will set up Dani Samuels’ second big match up for the night.

Villi sets the benchmark for women’s shot put, also entering 2009 as the reigning world champion and will provide tough competition for Samuels and Australian champion, Kim Mulhall.

The Sydney Track Classic is the first of two premier international meets on the Australian athletics calendar.

Event:                    Sydney Track Classic

Day:                       Saturday, 28 February 2009

Time:                     Action kicks off at 6:00pm

Where:                  Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre

Tickets:                  Available at the gate