09.05.2009

Osaka: Lewis, Thomas impressive, as 4 x 400m women qualify for Berlin

With less than 100 days to go to the Berlin world championships, Australia’s established and emerging stars have produced a string of promising performances at the Osaka Grand Prix in Japan this afternoon.  

The charge was led by Tamsyn Lewis who had a brilliant day on track storming to an impressive victory in the women’s 400m in 51.80, before anchoring the women’s 4 x 400m relay team to a much-sought after world championships qualifying time.

Three other Australians joined Lewis on the victory dais, Olympic silver medallist Sally McLellan (100m - 11.46 -0.9), Kimberley Mickle (javelin – 62.65m) and Lachlan Renshaw (800m – 1.47.38) all tasting success at the Japanese meet, the fourth leg of the IAAF World Athletics Tour.

Just as impressive was Tristan Thomas, whose ominous form over the 400m hurdles continued, slicing 0.18 seconds from his previous personal best (48.86 - Sydney Track Classic in February) to place second in 48.68.

Finishing just eight hundredths of a second behind reigning world champion and Beijing silver medallist Kerron Clement of the USA, the 22-year-old AIS athlete produced the third fastest time in the world this year, the youngster declaring himself a force on the international scene.

In the much anticipated men’s 400m, Sean Wroe (45.32) and John Steffensen (45.35) placed third and fourth respectively behind Athens gold medallist and reigning world champion Jeremy Wariner (44.69) of the USA.

However the story of the day was Lewis and the women’s 4 x 400m relay. The team of Pirenee Steinert, Madeleine Pape, Jodie Henry and Lewis easily reached the required world championships qualifying time of 3:31.0, producing a quick 3.28.97 for the four laps.

It was a solid effort by Lewis who ran a swift 51.80 for the individual 400m before backing up a short time later for the relay.

“I went through the first 200m very, very fast. I managed to hold on but I was dying in the last 50m, it hurt so much. It was a good training run,” said Lewis.

However it was the relay result which gave Lewis the most joy and satisfaction.

“The girls were just ecstatic, they ran so well, it was the perfect order.”

“A lot of people have had doubts on the 4 x 400m girls, we haven’t really been given an opportunity for a few years.

“To come over and do the time, and say pick us now, we can do it when it counts, is very exciting. If Jana (Rawlinson) can get back into 50.4 shape it will be a very formidable team in Berlin.”

Lewis, who has switched her focus from the 800m to the 400m and 400m hurdles this year, is still undecided as to which event she will concentrate on in Berlin.

“At this stage I’ll probably do the 400m hurdles. However if I run a 50.4 second 400m leading in (to Berlin) where I have a few races in Europe, I’ll have a pretty tough decision.”

Berlin-bound javelin thrower Kimberley Mickle (62.65m) continued her stellar vein of form, launching the javelin over the 60 metre mark for the fifth time this year (and in her career). Recording her tenth consecutive victory, the 24-year-old West Australian defeated Ukranian Vira Rebryk (62.26) and Kim Kreiner (56.83) from the USA.

It was an Aussie clean sweep in the men’s 800m, Lachlan Renshaw (1.47.38) holding out fellow Beijing Olympian Jeff Riseley (1.47.59) and NSW youngster Ryan Gregson who clocked a new personal best time of 1.47.94.

Twenty-seven year old Brendan Cole also produced a personal best in the 400m hurdles, taking one hundredth off his lifetime best to place fifth in 49.35.

Unfortunately the women’s 4 x 100m relay team (Melissa Breen, Sally McLellan, Jody Henry and Alicia Wrench-Doody) were unsuccessful in their quest to post a world championships qualifier, clocking 43.95 to miss the required mark by just five hundredths of a second.

The men's 4 x 100m (Josh Ross, Chris Noffke, Matt Davies and Daniel Martin) who have already been selected for Berlin, placed second behind Japan in 39.32.

Reigning national champion Josh Ross (10.39 +0.8) placed fourth in the men’s 100m, Kaila McKnight (4.11.47) was third in the 1500m, three-time national champion Lauren Boden (57.93) finished sixth in the 400m hurdles, 2005 world youth champion Chris Noffke leaped 7.47m to place seventh in the long jump and Victorian Daniel Martin made his debut on the senior 100m hurdles finishing seventh in 14.23.

Official results

In other results, Scott Martin placed eighth at the Qatar Super Grand Prix in Doha last night, heaving the shot put 19.62m.