30.06.2009

McLellan goes out in style on the Gold Coast

Sally McLellan has turned on an impressive display in her last training run on home soil before departing for Europe to launch her bid for Berlin glory.

The 22-year-old Gold Coast resident posted a quick 12.79 in a mixed 100m hurdles at the sixth round of the Gold Coast Winter Series at Griffith University.

“I wasn’t expecting to run that fast but I’m very happy and I guess when I get to Europe the racing is going to be a lot faster so it’s really exciting that I’m already in this shape before I head overseas,” McLellan said.

“Anything under 12.9 I was going to be happy with, I was thinking about 12.8-high but to have Sam Baines next to me was really good to be able to build my adrenaline up a bit more so I could get a good race out and have someone to run against.”

McLellan departs for Europe tomorrow to launch a hectic few weeks in the lead-up to the world track and field titles in Berlin, her second world championships campaign.

“It’s busy, I have about eight races so I’m racing almost every three days and then I have a week off for a training block and then get back into it again before the world champs so it’s busy but it’s going to be good,” McLellan said.

The Beijing silver medallist said she would depart for Europe a lot stronger than when she entered last year’s Olympic Games.

“I’m a lot stronger than what I have been, I’m a lot stronger than last year. I’m just building on all my fitness and my strength and my speed so I’m looking forward to Berlin, it’s still about a month and a half away so if I have a good European season I’ll run well in Berlin.”

McLellan was joined at today’s meet by all 22 members of the world youth championships team, who have converged on the Gold Coast ahead of their departure for the sixth edition of the IAAF event in Bressanone, Italy, on Friday.

In their final hit-out before leaving Australia, members of the team took advantage of ideal conditions at the Gold Coast track to fine-tune their preparations for the meet.

In the last race of the day it was Queenslander Alex Beck who stole the show, storming home in the 400m to set a new personal best time of 48.02.

The time shaves .03 off the previous best mark of 48.05 Beck set at the Australian Under 20/23 Championships in Adelaide in April.

“It was a great run, I felt really strong through the last 200m of it and I let the New Zealand guy get away from me a bit at the end but I was really happy with it,” he said.

“The time has taken me a little bit by surprise, I’ve had a little bit of a back injury and just a few niggles here and there in training but I knew I was in good shape and it’s just really good to get the result.”

The one-lap specialist has already set his sights on bettering that mark overseas next week, the world youth titles the ultimate incentive to cracking the elusive 48.0 barrier.  

“I have to crack that 48.0 and be a man in terms of 400m running and I’m getting closer to it so hopefully it will happen in Italy,” he said.

Beck was joined in the field by athletes from Ireland, New Zealand and Vanuatu, the strong field helping him across the line in career best time.

“It’s always good to run against quality opposition and for a guy who’s going to the world youths it’s really good to see some of the other athletes out there and see what I can do.”

800m runner Bronte Gange was first home in the girls’ one-lap race, stopping the clock at 59.57.

In other track action New South Wales duo Mitchell Tysoe and Cameron Hyde took on the 110m hurdles, clocking 14.02 and 14.22 respectively.

Kane Grimster and James Connor claimed the one-two double over 1500m, Grimster crossing the line in 3:51.39 to edge out his New South Wales rival in 3:54.43.

In the field Tasmanian Huw Peacock launched the hammer 62.92m, while Ben Talakai (53.32m) and Liam Speers (53.25m) battled out a close contest in the discus throw.

Peacock and Speers returned to the field to join world youth shot put representative Damien Birkinhead in the boys’ shot put event. Birkinhead threw 18.2m to take out the win ahead of Speers (17.49m) and Peacock (15.54m).

In the girls’ discus throw, Taryn Gollshewsky recorded a best throw of 44.05m.

Rounding out the throws events, Brisbane athlete Luanga Andria posted 62.33m in the javelin.

In the jumps pit Victorian Brooke Stratton posted 6.02m in the girls’ long jump, within range of the personal best leap of 6.10m she recorded in Brisbane in March.

Kurt Jenner recorded a best leap of 7.08m (w: 2.0) in the boys’ event.

High jump duo Denise Snyder and Amy Pejkovic recorded jumps of 1.70m and 1.77m respectively, while Andrew Neville posted J2.00m.

Before departing the track, McLellan was quick to offer a message of support to the world youth team.

“Just have fun, this is where I started and now look at me. If they can just have fun and enjoy what they do they’re going to go really far.”

McLellan won gold in the 100m hurdles and placed fifth in the 200m at the 2003 edition of the world youth titles in Sherbrooke, Canada.