12.03.2009

Unhappy Hooker on ice for nationals

Succumbing to a knee injury which he has carried for the last two months, Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker has been forced to withdraw from next week’s Selection Trials and 87^th Australian Championships in Brisbane.

Yesterday Hooker accepted medical advice to rest his knee, forcing him to miss the Western Australian Championships this weekend, the final meet at the soon to be demolished Perry Lakes Stadium, and the nationals in Brisbane to be held from Thursday, 19 – Saturday, 21 March.

“My doctor has advised me to take two weeks off running and four weeks off jumping,� Hooker said from his base in Perth this afternoon.

“I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to defend my national title, however it’s important that this injury gets dealt with now so I can complete a full preparation ahead of the world championships in Berlin.�

The dual national champion originally injured his knee competing at a Perth intra-club meet in January. Snapping his pole in half on takeoff, the pole flicked back connecting heavily with his left knee.

Despite the injury, Hooker has had a sensational year to date, registering seven consecutive victories in the United States, Europe and Australia, including three straight wins over six metres, a feat achieved by only one other vaulter, the great Sergey Bubka.

In Boston last month, the 26-year-old became the second best jumper of all time and secured the Australian record when he cleared 6.06m before the first of many close attempts at Bubka’s long standing world record.

Although he won’t be taking off from the runway in Brisbane, Hooker will be supporting his fellow athletes from the stands at the nationals, before attending the Athletics Australia Athlete of the Year function on Sunday, 22 March at Rydges Southbank.

2004 Olympic champion Tim Mack (USA) and 2006 World Athletics Final winner Paul Burgess (AUS) will start as favourites, the men's pole vault scheduled to commence at 6.45pm on Friday, 20 March.

The 87^th Australian Championships (Thursday, 19 – Saturday, 21 March) also double as the selection trials for the 2009 IAAF World Championships to be held in August in Berlin.

Australia’s best athletes will be endeavouring to secure their position on the Australian team led by Olympic 100m hurdles silver medallist Sally McLellan, one lap wonders Sean Wroe, Joel Milburn and John Steffensen, world junior discus champion Dani Samuels, world indoor champion Tamsyn Lewis, and in-form emerging 400m hurdler Tristan Thomas.

Selection Trials and 87^th Australian Championships
Thursday 19 – Saturday 21 March
Feature sessions from 6.00pm

Tickets available at the gate:
•    Thursday - $10 for adults and $5 concession (12-18)
•    Friday - $20 for adults and $10 concession (12-18)
•    Saturday - $20 for adults and $10 concession (12-18)

Athletics Australia Athlete of the Year
Sunday 22 March
12 noon for 12.30pm
Rydges Southbank – corner Grey and Glenelg Streets Brisbane