18.03.2010

Samuels to lead Aussie assault on trans-Tasman rivals

Trans-Tasman tensions will be at full strength tonight when a team of Australia’s top track and field talent steps out at QEII Stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand, for the 2010 International Track Meet.

World discus champion Dani Samuels will lead an all-star cast of Australian contenders set to take on their Kiwi counterparts on what is building as a big night of athletics action at QEII.

After a stunning start to the year that saw Samuels extend her personal best mark to 65.84m at last month’s Sydney Track Classic, the youngest world discus champion in history will have her work cut out for her tonight when she takes on New Zealand discus legend Beatrice Faumuina.

The former word champion, New Zealand record-holder, three-time Olympian and four-time Commonwealth Games representative is one of the most decorated athletes in New Zealand history and will be out to test the mettle of the new kid on the block when she steps out on home turf tonight.

Samuels will be joined in the field by 2009 World University Games representative Shaun Fletcher (long jump) and Victorian all-rounder Aaron Page, who will take on both the high jump and long jump events.

Heading the track action will be Australian Flame athletes Ryan Gregson (1500m), Jeff Riseley (800m) and Jeremy Roff (800m), and Beijing Olympian Lisa Corrigan (1500m).

Gresgon has enjoyed a stellar start to 2010, taking out the 800m in a new personal best time at the Hunter Track Classic in Newcastle (NSW) in February (1:47.06), the 1500m in a Commonwealth Games A-qualifying and meet record time of 3:37.35 at the Briggs Athletics Classic in Hobart (Tas) just one week later, the 1500m in a personal best, meet record and Commonwealth Games A-qualifying time of 3:35.42 at the Sydney Track Classic the next fortnight, and finishing second to reigning World Athletics Final title-holder David Rudisha over 800m at this month’s Melbourne Track Classic (1:46.04).

The 19-year-old New South Welshman took out the 3000m at last year’s edition of the Christchurch meet and will be keen to add a second International Track Meet title to his collection when competition gets under way tonight.

Joining the under 20 3000m national champion on the start line will be fellow rising stars James Nipperess, runner-up to Gregson in the under 20 3000m at the Zatopek:10 meet in Melbourne in December, and James Kaan, a 2008 world junior championships 800m representative.

Also stepping out at QEII Stadium will be Ben St Lawrence, runner-up over 10,000m at last year’s Zatopek:10, and Victorian athlete Ben Toomey, who take on the 5000m. The pair will line up alongside a quality field of local hopefuls that features sub-minute miler Jason Woolhouse, reigning New Zealand cross country champion Andrew Davidson and 2009 New Zealand 10,000m champion Rowan Hooper.

Four-time national 800m champion Nick Bromley will contest his premier event alongside Commonwealth Games 1500m champion and Olympic 1500m silver medallist Nick Willis, the Kiwi eyeing off a run over 800m at this year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, in October.

Bromley and Willis will be joined by countrymen Jeff Riseley, who took out the mile event at last year’s International Track Meet in a new stadium record time and who earlier this month defeated Willis over 1500m at the Melbourne Track Classic, and fellow Australian Flame athlete Jeremy Roff, who also scored a win over Willis in Melbourne this month.

Irish two-lap and 1500m national champion David Campbell will add some European weight to the world-class field.

Joining Corrigan in a three-way Aussie showdown in the women’s 1500m will be Kaila McKnight (1500m), who took out the mile event at the 2009 edition of the International Track Meet, and 2008 word junior championships representative Bridey Delaney (1500m), the trio set for a scintillating match-up with some of New Zealand’s best track talents.