25.05.2009

Harradine consistent in Halle

Australian discus specialist Benn Harradine has recorded a third world championships B-qualifying distance for 2009 with a throw of 64.03m at a throws meet in Halle, Germany, at the weekend. 
 
The result leaves Harradine just 47cm short of the A-qualifying standard required for the championships just weeks before final selections to the Australian team are announced.

In what has been an impressive start to the year Harradine has posted six equivalent B-qualifying distances in total, three of which will be discounted by Athletics Australia selectors due to a sloping field at Salinas, Calfornia.

Harradine, who set a new Australian discus record of 66.37m in May last year, finished fifth at the Halle event behind Poland’s Piotr Malachowski.

Malachowski took out the event with a new Polish national record of 68.75m.

Harradine’s effort in Halle continues a consistent start to the year for the 26-year-old Victorian-based thrower, who with a 2009-best of 64.40m recorded in California last week, has again fallen just short of the coveted A-qualifying mark for Berlin.

The two-time national champion and former Commonwealth and Olympic Games representative will continue his push for selection to his first world championships in the lead-up to final selections in July.