21.06.2009

Weekend wrap: Wroe lives life in the fast lane on the Gold Coast

Reigning national 400m champion Sean Wroe has proved he can match it with some of Australia’s best sprinters, claiming the sprint double on the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon.

Wroe, who will compete in the 400m and 4 x 400m at the world championships in August, was too strong for Australian record holder Patrick Johnson in the 100m, dipping over the line in 10.54 (0.0), ahead of Johnson’s 10.71. Wroe’s time was just four hundredths of a second outside his personal best set in Hobart in January. 

The 24-year-old backed up his winning form in the 200m clocking 21.00 (0.2), tantalizingly close to his best of 20.97 set on the same track three weeks ago. Berlin-bound 4 x 100m relay members Matt Davies (21.29) and Johnson (21.49) completed the placings.

Wroe will now head to Europe where he will commence his overseas campaign at the Bislett Games in Oslo on July 3. 

Sally McLellan’s busy day on the track concluded with three wins from three starts, the Olympic silver medallist securing victory in the 100m (11.40 +0.0), 200m (23.30 +0.0) and 100m hurdles (12.92).

Twenty-one year old Mitchell Watt once again sailed past eight metres in the long jump, taking out the event in 8.12m (+0.0). Fellow Queenslander and training partner Chris Noffke, placed second with 7.95m. 

In other major results, Petrina Price cleared 1.88m in the high jump, Justin Anlezark launched the shot put 19.63m, Alana Boyd sailed 4.20m over the bar in the women’s pole vault and unfortunately Madeleine Pape was outside the world championships qualifier for the 800m recording 2:02:05 for the two laps.

The action on the Gold Coast continues this afternoon (Sunday).

Adams sixth in La Coruna

Competing in windy conditions against a strong field in La Coruna, Spain overnight, Australian walker Luke Adams has finished in a credible sixth place at the sixth leg of the 2009 IAAF Race Walking Challenge.

Adams, who was still slightly fatigued from his 20 mile race in Canberra two weeks ago, completed the 20km course in 1:21:30.

China’s Yafei Chu took out the event in 1:19:51, just four seconds ahead of last year's victor, Norwegian Eric Tysse (1:19:55). Mexican Eder Sanchex placed third in 1:20:30.

Chris Erickson crossed the finish line in 14th position, clocking 1:24:31. Australia’s dual Olympic medallist Jared Tallent was forced to withdraw from the race in the fifteenth kilometre with stomach problems.

Germany’s Sabine Zimmer Krantz recorded a surprise victory in the women's race, defeating Norwegian Kjersti Plätzer, the overwhelming pre-race favourite, 1:30:20 to 1:30:55. Australian Claire Tallent finished in 17th place in 1:37:16.

IAAF race report

Aussies clean sweep at Scottish Championships
(Courtesy of Runners Tribe)

Collis Birmingham has cruised around in the men's 1500m at the Scottish Championships on Sunday, winning in a relatively slow time of 3:42.56. It should be noted however that his nearest competition was over four seconds away.

Birmingham's thoughts now turn to one of the biggest distance meetings of the year, the Bislett Games in Oslo (July 3), where he will look to improve on his recently achieved personal best in the 5000m of 13:16.26. Birmingham will be joined in Oslo by Jeff Riseley and Ryan Gregson, who both will compete in the men's mile.

Also competing at the Scottish Championships were Benita Johnson (who took out the women's 5000m in 16:25.26) and Nick Bromley (who won the men's 800m in 1:53.33).