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Solid morning for athletics team
Victorian middle distance runner Rick Whitehead has provided the highlight and another personal best for the Australian team in Singapore, with second place in the B final of the 1000m on Sunday morning.
In hot, still conditions, Whitehead moved from second to the lead after 550 metres when the pace was slowing. He ran strongly from the front and was passed right on the line by a fast-finishing Patrick Nibafasha of Burundi in 2:27.16.
Whitehead’s time of 2:27.20 was an improvement for the 17-year-old from his heat time of 2:27.81, which was also a PB.
"I really wanted to come here today and get a fast time and the win,” Whitehead said.
“I expected everyone to be going for a good time so when the pace wasn’t on I tried to pick it up.
“Its not the same buzz as running for a medal but I’m really glad we got another run in and I was able to lower my PB again.”
The A final was won in a scorching 2:19.54 by Ethiopian Mohammed Geleto.
Melbourne sprinter Monica Brennan ran close to her personal best in the A final of the 200m to place eighth at the Youth Olympic Games. Running in lane one the 16-year-old, who was a late addition to the Australian team for the Games, fought hard to the line and recorded a time of 24.83. She set her personal best of 24.69 in the heat.
Nigerian Florence Nwakwe became Youth Olympic champion with a personal best of 23.46.
Sydney long jumper Kurt Jenner had foul trouble in qualifying and again today in the B final, with two of his four jumps receiving the red flag. He finished second in the B final, a very commendable result. His best jump today was 7.08m.
Jenner will take a lot from this meet and be motivated that his personal best of 7.40m would have put him in the hunt for the medals. Jamaican Caio Dos Santos won gold with a final leap of 7.69m.
Elliot Lang, 16, was unable to reproduce his PB form from qualifying in the javelin B final. Competing with a sore shoulder he twice launched the javelin over 65m. His best throw of 65.91m placed him fifth today and 13th overall for the Games.
The Sydney thrower wasn’t making any excuses and leaves Singapore with a PB of 68.83m.
“I’m a little disappointed with that today. I thought I could throw through the soreness and get a good result. I’m still glad I got the extra throws in and the extra experience,” Lang said.
Prabhjot Rai threw consistently with three throws over 13m in the shot put. Her best throw of 13.30m placed her fourth in the B final.
Tonight her throwing teammate Damien Birkinhead is chasing gold in the shot put and Adelaide walker Blake Steele races the gruelling 10,000m.
With thanks to Andrew Reid and the AOC
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