28.03.2010

State record to mighty Mitchell in Melbourne

Ballarat thrower Kathryn Mitchell (Eureka) is one step closer to her second Commonwealth Games appearance after bettering the A-qualifying standard with a new personal best and Victorian record to win the women’s javelin title at the 2010 Victorian Track and Field Championships in Melbourne.

With Mitchell’s performance concluding the third and final day of competition at Olympic Park, Athletics Essendon overtook Box Hill in the overall points score to claim the prized HH Hunter Shield and title of champion Victorian track and field club for the second consecutive year.

Posting a Games B-qualifier (56.34m) at the Melbourne Track Classic earlier this month, 27-year-old Mitchell surpassed the A-standard with her almighty fifth attempt of 59.68m. Breaking Ringwood’s Cecilia McIntosh’s 2002 state record, Mitchell comfortably accounted for defending champion Bianca Maurer (Deakin- 47.84m) and national junior champion Monique Cilione (Keilor St Bernards - 43.50m).

Mitchell’s state record was the second of the championships following Gabrielle Neighbour’s (Mentone) new state mark of 64.38m in the women’s hammer throw yesterday.

In the men’s javelin, invitation thrower Matt Outzen (NSW) topped the competition standings with his best attempt of 71.45m, while Ravinder Khaira (Ringwood – 67.25m) was the best of the Victorians and claimed the state title.

On the track, Tamsyn Lewis (Sandringham) successfully defended her women’s 400m hurdles state crown, crossing in 58.37. Blustery conditions thwarted the triple Olympian's assault on a Commonwealth Games qualifier, as the track stalwart led home Bianca Mignot (St Stephens Harriers – 61.38) and national junior champion Felicity Black (Knox – 61.97) to the line.

In her first competitive outing in over 12 months, Sydney Olympian Georgie Clarke (Geelong Guild) was impressive as she strung out the women’s 1500m field, running solo for much of the race before crossing first in 4:15.41.

With thanks to Athletics Victoria.