31.05.2009

Encouraging signs from Rawlinson

Dual world 400m hurdles champion Jana Rawlinson has made a successful return to the track with an encouraging time trial in Canberra on Saturday afternoon.

Racing at the Australian Institute of Sport, Rawlinson clocked a hand-timed 55.6sec for the one lap.

In windy conditions, she struggled technically in the last 100m, but most importantly she came through the trial unscathed.

It was her first genuine hitout in 12 months and means the 26-year-old will tackle her European campaign full of confidence.

"It was great to be back and I feel fantastic about how things panned out," Rawlinson told Jim Wilson from the Herald Sun.

"I have regained my passion and this is what I love doing.

"Certainly, to be stress-free and be able to focus on my athletics is such a relief."

Rawlinson heads to Europe this week ahead of first meet in Bydgoszcz, Poland on June 10.

Click here to read Jim Wilson’s article in the Herald Sun.

Benita denied fourth consecutive victory in New York

Ethiopian Teyba Erkesso has taken out the 31^st Freihofer’s 5km Run for Women in Albany, New York today, denying Australia’s Benita Johnson from claiming her fourth consecutive victory.

Benita Johnson was looking to tie a record by winning the event for the fourth straight year, but the 2004 world cross country champion finished sixth in an even 16:00.

Johnson hasn’t raced all year because of tendon injuries in her right foot, but she was right with the lead pack until the midway point.

“Normally this course is bread and butter for me and I’m feeling good at (three kilometres), but I’m coming in from a very different training background this year,” Johnson told Andrew Santillo of the Troy Record in the United States.

Johnson was using this race to help prepare for the upcoming World Championships in Berlin.

“I pencilled this race in two months ago, before I was even running again,” Johnson said. “I really wanted to come here because I just love the event, I love the course and I love racing these tough athletes, but I also love speaking to the children at the schools. I had such great joy talking to all the children and a lot of them were out here running today.”

Twenty-six year old Erkesso won the event in 15:2, three seconds ahead of countrywoman Mamitu Daska.

Further details can be found in the Troy Record

Renshaw burns rivals in Balmoral

Lachlan Renshaw has taken out the Balmoral Burn in Sydney ahead of a field containing Australia's best 800m runners.

Renshaw racked up his fourth win over the arduous 420 metre race which scales Awaba Street at Mosman, finishing one second ahead of Australian junior 1500m and 3000m record holder Ryan Gregson, with Australian 800m bronze medallist Werner Botha taking third a further second behind.

Renshaw rated this year's win as the hardest yet.

"It's the best field the race has had in a while," Renshaw told Tim McGrath of Inside Athletics.

"We went out harder at the start and all died a bit in the end, which is why I think the time was slower than last year," explained Renshaw, whose winning time of 1:21 was a mere second slower than his convincing victory last year.

Despite his experience in the event, which sees the athletes make a vertical rise of approximately 25 metres during the race, Renshaw had to run hard all the way to the line.

"I was never confident of the win - it's the kind of race where things can change very quickly. I tied up with about 10 metres to go and Ryan was closing on me fast. It's a tough race that way."

Renshaw will depart for Europe in less than a fortnight to train and race in preparation for his participation in the world university games, where his goal is to make the final.

But the 22-year-old also has bigger plans in mind.

"I want to be running fast times and qualify for the world championships," he said, with the A-qualifier of 1:45.40 and B-qualifier of 1:46.60 firmly on his mind.

"I'll have two weeks of training and then do some low key races. Hopefully I get into a bigger race at the end of June."

Lara Nicod took out the women's event in 1:47, one second ahead of 14-year-old Jessica Durand, with Australian junior 800m champion Selma Kajan in third in 1:49.With thanks to Tim McGrath - insideathletics.com.au

Aussies conquer at Christchurch Marathon

Berlin bound marathon runners Scott Westcott and Lisa Jane Weightman have continued their preparations for the world championships with victories in the Christchurch half marathon on Sunday.

It was an Australian clean sweep in the men's race with Scott Westcott clocking 1:03:34 to win the half marathon 50 seconds ahead of compatriots Clint Perrett and Shane Nankervis.

Perrett and Westcott went straight to the front, whipping through 5k in a shade under 15min. The pair continued pushing the pace, hitting 8km in under 24min, before Westcott broke away to secure the victory.

The good news kept coming for the Australians with Beijing Olympian Lisa Weightman taking out the women's half marathon, clocking a fast 1:12:28, three minutes clear of kiwis Shireen Crumpton and Fiona Crumpton.

New Zealand’s Mike Aish won the marathon in 2:18:18, with Australia's Paul Martinico coming from fourth at halfway to claim second place in a personal best 2:22:50. 2008 winner Rowan Hooper was 70 secs behind in third. Australian pace Andrew Letherby cruised through halfway in the marathon in 67:28.

There was a big upset in the women's marathon as defending champion Sandra Prosenica of Australia came from fourth at halfway to take the lead in the final 300m, to win in a lifetime best of  2:52:27. Kirsty Somers-Edgar was 15 seconds adrift, followed by Kelly Parlane in third.

With thanks to http://www.sbsmarathon.co.nz/