07.05.2009

Marathon runners join team for Berlin

One hundred days out from the event, five marathon runners have been added to the Australian team selected to compete at the 2009 IAAF world championships in Berlin from August 15-23.
 
Beijing Olympian Lisa Weightman (Vic) has been given the nod by selectors and will make her world championships debut.
 
In addition, Martin Dent (ACT), Andrew Letherby (Vic), Mark Tucker (Vic) and Scott Westcott (NSW) have been selected to represent Australia at the IAAF World Marathon Cup, to be held in conjunction with the marathon at the world championships.
 
Their inclusion increases the size of the Australian team to 44 members, with further ‘in stadium’ selections to be made ahead of the final selectors’ meeting on July 19.
 
Selectors have also given in-form Victorian distance runner Collis Birmingham the option of competing in the 5,000m or 10,000m in Berlin. Birmingham, who had already secured his place in the Australian team for the 5,000m, put his hand up for 10,000m selection with his Australian record breaking performance of 27:29.73 in California last month.
 
“The marathon at the world championships doubles as the World Cup for the 42.195km event.  The selectors see the World Marathon Cup as an opportunity to expose our marathon talent to international championship conditions, particularly those with less experience,” explained Athletics Australia Chairman of Selectors, Peter Fitzgerald.
 
“Dent, Letherby, Tucker and Westcott have been selected on the basis that they will be representing Australia as a team in the World Cup."
 
“Lisa Weightman is seen by the selectors as a developing marathon runner who has continued to improve over the past year.”
 
Weightman competed in her very first marathon just over year ago, clocking 2:32:22 in London – the second fastest marathon on debut by an Australian woman. The 30-year-old was rewarded with selection in the Australian team for the Beijing Olympics, where she withstood the humid conditions to finish 33rd in 2:34:16. Strong performances at the IAAF world cross country championships over the last two years (17th – 2009, 20th – 2008) also played in Weightman’s favour.
 
Lee Troop, the only Australian male marathon runner with an A-qualifier to his name, withdrew from selection last month, the 37-year-old opting to focus on the Chicago Marathon later in the year.
 
Fellow Olympian Kate Smyth has decided to take a year off athletics and has not put herself up for selection. Benita Johnson is not seeking selection in the marathon, however will chase a position on the track, pending fitness.
 
Westcott (27th – Helsinki 2005) and Letherby (35th – Paris 2003) will be competing at the world championships for the second time in their careers and will bring an abundance of experience and knowledge to the table.
 
Westcott boasts the fastest time by an Australian in a marathon this year, his 2:12.56 in Japan’s Beppu-Oita Marathon in February the standout performance of the year to date.
 
Letherby registered his B-qualifier of 2:13.50 at the London Marathon in April last year.

Dent, who posted a world championships B-qualifier and personal best time of 2:14:46 in his first marathon in four years at Fukuoka in December, will be making his debut, as will Mark Tucker who clocked 2:13:49 in the same race. 

All selected athletes will be required to prove their pre-world championships form and fitness ahead of the final selectors’ meeting. Additional ‘in-stadium’ selections can be made at any time between now and the final selectors’ meeting on July 19.
 
Australian athletes selected for the 2009 Australian world championships team (as at May 7, 2009):
 
Men (30)

400m: Joel Milburn (23, NSW), John Steffensen (26, NSW), Sean Wroe (24, Vic)

1500m: Jeff Riseley (22, Vic), Jeremy Roff (25, NSW)

5000m: Collis Birmingham (24, Vic)

10,000m: David McNeill (22, Vic), Birmingham

400m hurdles: Tristan Thomas (22, Tas)

3000m steeplechase: Youcef Abdi (31, NSW)

20km walk: Luke Adams (32, NSW), Adam Rutter (22, NSW), Jared Tallent (24, Vic)

50km walk: Adams, Nathan Deakes (31, Vic), Chris Erickson (27, Vic), Tallent

Marathon: Martin Dent (30, ACT), Andrew Letherby (35, Vic), Mark Tucker (29, Vic), Scott Westcott (33, NSW)

Pole vault: Paul Burgess (29, WA), Steven Hooker (26, WA)

Long jump: Fabrice Lapierre (25, NSW), Mitchell Watt (20, Qld)

Triple jump: Alwyn Jones (24, Vic)

Shot put: Justin Anlezark (31, Qld)

Javelin throw: Jarrod Bannister (24, Qld)

4 x 100m relay: Anthony Alozie (22, Vic), Matt Davies (23, Qld), Patrick Johnson (36, Qld), Joshua Ross (28, Vic), Aaron Rouge-Serret (21, Vic)

4 x 400m relay: Milburn, Steffensen, Thomas, Wroe

Women (14)

100m: Melissa Breen (18, ACT)

400m: Tamsyn Lewis (30, Vic)

1500m: Sarah Jamieson (33, Vic)

100m hurdles: Sally McLellan (22, Qld)

400m hurdles: Lewis, Jana Rawlinson (26, NSW)

3000m steeplechase: Donna MacFarlane (31, Tas)

20km walk: Jessica Rothwell (19, Vic), Claire Tallent (27, SA), Cheryl Webb (32, NSW)

Marathon: Lisa Weightman (30, Vic)

High jump: Petrina Price (24, NSW)

Pole vault: Alana Boyd (24, Qld)

Discus throw: Dani Samuels (20, NSW)

Javelin throw: Kimberley Mickle (24, WA)