News
Jeff on the rise in Christchurch
Jeff Riseley has outclassed Olympic silver medallist Nick Willis for the second time in as many weeks, taking victory in the men's 800m in a time of 1:47.55 at the International Track Meet in Christchurch, New Zealand, overnight.
After a promising 1500m victory over the New Zealander and 2008 Olympic gold medallist Asbel Kiprop at the IAAF Melbourne Track Classic earlier this month, Riseley continued his good form in Christchurch with a last-lap surge on the back straight to hold off local boy Willis (second – 1:48.12) and fellow Australian Nick Bromley (third – 1:49.09).
With the duel between the pair set to be one to watch at this year's Commonwealth Games, Riseley’s confidence has received another boost along the road to Delhi.
“I’m out to let (Willis) know that I’m after him,” Riseley said.
“He’s established himself as one of the best milers in the world, he proved that in Beijing, and being able to continually challenge him is a great thing in what will be a big year.”
Joining Riseley in taking line honours across the middle distances were Flame athlete Ryan Gregson (1500m) and Chiba Ekiden relay representative Ben St Lawrence (5000m).
Gregson led an all-Australian trifecta in the 1500m, crossing the line in a time of 3:41.69 ahead of emerging stars James Kaan (second - 3:43.04) and James Nipperess (third - 3:44.00) to add yet another impressive result to his great start to 2010.
In recent weeks the New South Welshman has recorded Commonwealth Games A-qualifying and meet record times at the Briggs Athletics and Sydney Track Classics and placed second to blistering Kenyan David Rudisha over 800m at the IAAF-sanctioned Melbourne Track Classic.
In the men's 5000m St Lawrence stopped the clock almost two seconds clear of Brit Mark Draper (second - 13:50.09) and local hope Jason Woolhouse (third – 14:00.01).
“There was many a promising performance here tonight,” said Athletics Australia National Distance Coordinator Tim O’Shaughnessy.
“Jeff (Riseley) is continuing to run well against some really tough competition and with so many runners in the hunt for Delhi the results from boys like Ryan (Gregson) and Ben (St Lawrence) will make the fields at our national championships next month even stronger.”
In field results, world discus champion Dani Samuels has continued her dominance in the throws cage, triumphing over dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist Beatrice Faumuina of New Zealand.
Heaving 63.88m with her sixth and final throw, 21-year-old Samuels continues to stand out from the pack after an impressive Australian domestic season that included a new personal best of 65.84m at the Sydney Track Classic in February.
Samuels was thankful to her New Zealand rival
for throwing down a challenge at QEII Stadium last night.
"She threw 61.10m on her last throw and that meant I had to
dig a little bit, that’s what pushed me and that’s what you need to
perform,” Samuels said.
The New South Wales world-beater will now turn her attention to the Go for 2&5 88th Australian Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games selection trials from April 16-18 in Perth.
To purchase tickets please click here.
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletters to keep up to date with Athletics in Australia.
More Headlines
_stack_WEB_4e0d093feac62.jpg)
